Article Posted on : - Jul 27, 2011

IAF's MiG-21. A file photo.

SHILLONG (PTI): Indian Air Force Vice-Chief designate Air Marshal K K Nohwar Wednesday said if any enemy aircraft violates India's air sovereignty, it will meet the same fate as Pakistan Navy's Atlantic patrol aircraft which was shot down in 1999.

"Let me assure you, if any of our neighbours tries to intrude into our air space, it will meet the same fate as that met the Atlantic in the Rann of Kutch," Nohwar said, when pointed to reports about Chinese air planes chasing an US spy aircraft over Taiwan recently.

In 1999, a Pakistan Navy Atlantic was shot down by IAF MiG-21s after they failed to force it to land at an Indian base. Disobeying instructions from the MiG pilots, the Atlantic manoeuvred to escape from them and was shot down by a heat-seeking air-to-air missile over the Rann of Kutch region.

Nohwar, currently the AoC-in-C of Eastern Air Command, said "between two nations, there is always a posture that is maintained".

"The military is prepared to ensure that there is no violation of its territory. Every country has the right to defend its own territory," the IAF officer said.

Nohwar will take over as the Vice Chief of Air Staff on August 1.