'We Must Remain Prepared for The Future': IAF Chief Calls for Constant Readiness, Innovation

India's air strikes under Operation Sindoor restored the rightful place of offensive air action in the national consciousness, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said Wednesday as the Indian Air Force marked its 93rd anniversary.Speaking at the Air Force Day parade at Hindon air base, Singh said the IAF’s "bold and precise" attacks on enemy targets had demonstrated how air power can decisively shape military outcomes "in just a few days"."Our performance in Operation Sindoor fills us with professional pride," Singh said. "India’s bold and precise attacks restored the rightful place of offensive air action in the national consciousness."Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The IAF used air power to destroy

several terror infrastructures in Pakistan-controlled territory, leading to four days of intense clashes that ended on May 10.The Air Chief described the operation as “a shining example of what can be achieved through meticulous planning, disciplined training and determined execution.” He credited India’s indigenously developed weapons systems for delivering “precise and devastating blows deep inside enemy territory,” saying it “vindicates our faith in home-grown capabilities.”Singh also highlighted the IAF’s robust air defense architecture and effective use of long-range surface-to-air missile systems that “limited the adversary’s ability to operate and ensured safety of our vital assets.”Calling on air warriors to stay ready for future challenges, Singh said, “Our planning must be innovative, practical and adaptive. Our training must be based on the principle of ‘train like we fight.’”"As we celebrate our triumphs and success, we must remain prepared for the future. Our planning must be innovative, practical and adaptive," he said. He noted that the IAF’s pace of modernisation, accountability, and safety has improved, with fewer accidents reported.Singh also praised the force’s humanitarian efforts during Operation Sindhu, launched in June to evacuate Indians from conflict zones in Iran and Israel. “The compassion, speed and reliability with which the Indian Air Force delivered hope… embodies the highest ideals of service before self,” he said.The IAF was officially established on October 8, 1932.(With PTI inputs)