Outgoing IAF Chief Recalls Op Sindoor in His Last Air Force Day Address

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the outgoing chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), said on Thursday that the force's true strength lies in its Air Warriors and not merely in advanced equipment and technology, as the IAF marked its 94th Air Force Day at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad.

Singh inspected the ceremonial parade, which was followed by a display of the IAF's frontline combat assets.

Singh pointed to a changing global security environment of rapid change, uncertainty and complex geopolitical challenges, with new conflicts emerging around the world.

"These events have clearly demonstrated that air power is the primary means of protecting national interests," he said. "The Indian Air Force, being the custodian of air power, understands its role and responsibilities, and is always alert, committed, and ready to meet any contingency."

READINESS OVER HARDWARE

Advanced aircraft and systems alone do not make an air force strong, Singh said. "Any Air Force can have the most advanced aircraft in the world or the most advanced systems in the world, but its true strength is measured by its operational preparedness. That is, how quickly and confidently it can act whenever the call comes," he said.

Recalling the previous year, he said the world had seen how fast the IAF moved into combat operations, with both its destructive power and its air defence on display during Operation Sindoor.

"Infallible, Impervious and Precise," he said, was not just a tagline but a statement of the force's strength and resolve.

Singh said the IAF's operational capability and readiness are "moving in the right direction," with a culture of ownership and accountability strengthening across the force. "Equipment, technology, and platforms are merely tools; the true source of our success lies in our Air Warriors," he said.

He said the force was upholding the core values of the defence services, moving beyond tenure-based mindsets and contributing to nation-building. Commanders, he said, are encouraging effective decision-making by delegating well and nurturing leadership.

He urged personnel to take pride in their duties. "Every Air Warrior is a vital link in our organisation," he said, adding that no one should become "the weak link that compromises the strength of the Air Force chain."

A CHANGE AT THE TOP

This was the 61-year-old's last Air Force Day as chief. He retires on October 31, when Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, now Vice Chief of the Air Staff, takes over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, with a tenure to December 31, 2028. The government announced the appointment on Tuesday.

Dixit, born on December 9, 1966, was commissioned into the fighter stream in December 1986 and has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on aircraft including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Hawk and Tejas. He served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff before becoming Vice Chief.

A LOOK AT SINGH'S CAREER

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, took over as the Chief of the Air Staff from Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on September 30, 2024, and retires on October 31.

A fighter pilot commissioned into the IAF in December 1984, he is a qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot with more than 5,000 hours of flying experience.

He is the fourth officer from the Sikh community to lead the force, after Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh and Air Chief Marshals Dilbagh Singh and BS Dhanoa.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College.

Over four decades he has commanded an operational fighter squadron and a frontline air base along the borders, served as Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command in Ahmedabad, and as Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command in Shillong.

He also led the MiG-29 upgrade project management team in Moscow and headed Central Air Command before becoming Vice Chief.

As Vice Chief, he was at the forefront of Exercise Tarang Shakti, the first multinational air combat drill in India in 60 years.

Singh's tenure has been marked by calls for faster aircraft induction. He has said he hopes that the indigenous Tejas Mk-1A and more Rafale jets will be bought under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft programme, and has voiced concern over Pakistan's collaboration with China on a fifth-generation fighter.

With inputs from ANI