Shillong: Indian Air Force Vice-Chief
designate Air Marshal K K Nohwar on 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.
PTI
