Article Posted on : - Jun 18, 2011

A file photo.

HYDERABAD (PTI): India must acquire offencive air power because the situation in its neighbourhood is changing very fast because of a "few hostile countries", the only Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh has said.

"The situation around us is changing very fast because of a few hostile countries which are our neighbours. Our approach would need to be different and we have to build up an Air Force which has the ability to face them," he said.

Marshal Arjan Singh (92), who joined IAF in 1939, was speaking to reporters after reviewing the Combined Graduation Parade of the flight cadets of all the branches of the IAF at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal on the city outskirts.

"We hardly have any friendly country around us...they are hostile. And therefore, the approach has to be that we must have an Air Force which has offencive power and can attack properly in case of need," he said while addressing the Combined Graduation Parade of the flight cadets of all the branches of the Indian Air Force.

The former IAF chief stressed on the need for future planning for building a modern Air Force that could serve our long-term needs as hostility with the (neighbouring) countries was not going to diminish "just like that."

"Every country now respects strength not only in terms of defence capability but also economic strength. And it must be realised that both of them are linked and we have a long way to go there," Singh said.

Asked on the role of Air Force in wars, he said "since World War-II, land forces have played a big part. But now, Air Force is playing an important role in wars like in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, initially the action is taken by Air Force so that it becomes easier for the land forces to face the attack," he added.

Replying to a query, Arjan Singh said "all the armed forces need to be kept upto date in modern equipment. If you don't have good equipment, the morale of the service goes down. We must be prepared to face any kind of danger with strong economy and strong armed forces."

"Our Air Force has now been equipped with the most advanced instruments of all and you (flight cadets) have much more responsibility in maintaining and using them for maximum effect," Arjan Singh added.

A total of 142 flight cadets, including 22 women cadets, passed out of the Air Force Academy and joined the main stream of the Indian Air Force.

Flying Officer Tejas Subhash Kawale, who commanded the parade, was awarded the President's Plaque and Chief of Air Staff 'Sword of Honour' for standing first in overall order of merit in Pilot Course.