Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria today said that the operational preparedness of the IAF has been of a very high order and it achieved a number of operational milestones last year, including the Balakot strike.
In his first press conference, Air Force Chief said, the IAF is prepared to meet any contingency and does not rest on past laurels.
Ahead of the press conference, the IAF showed representational video clips of the Balakot strikes. He also said acquisition of Rafale aircraft and S400 air defence systems will greatly enhance IAF’s operational capabilities.
Speaking to media at the Indian Air Force’s annual press conference, the Air Chief described as a big mistake the IAF shooting down its helicopter in Kashmir on 27th of February, when Indian and Pakistani forces engaged in a dogfight.
He said, a Court of Inquiry report has been submitted and punitive action is being taken against the guilty.
A surface-to-air missile of the IAF brought down the Mi-17 aircraft in Kashmir’s Budgam on the morning of 27th of February when the two forces were engaged in a fierce dogfight, a high-level probe had concluded in August.
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