Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne on Saturday said India is ready to face any challenge concerning its security.
Speaking on the occasion of Air Force Day, Browne admitted that the security environment in India`s neighbourhood was "extremely fragile". He added that the situation warrants close monitoring and air vigilance.
"Security situation in the immediate neighbourhood is extremely fragile and it is a major concern for us... the need of the hour is air vigilance," the Air Chief Marshal said in his address at the 79th Air Force Day parade here. In his Air Force Day message, the IAF chief said the "present environment in our neighbourhood is a serious cause of concern and warrants close monitoring and eternal vigilance."
"Today the inimical intentions of our adversaries are further strengthened by radicalism and infusion of technology," Browne said.
The Air Force Chief also announced that radars and fighter jets would be deployed in the national capital as well as other metros to firm up the country’s defence.
The IAF Chief had recently said that Pakistan continues to reel under relentless terrorist violence and stabilisation of internal security situation there appears a distant dream.
He had also said that increasing presence of China in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) warrants India`s "attention".
Stressing on ensuring the security of all important assets of the country, the IAF Chief said that security of our information networks was also "absolutely critical".
"We need to upgrade our knowledge and awareness to counter this threat," he said.
The IAF Chief made the remarks after a parade was held at the Hindon Air Base near here to mark the Air Force Day. Also today, the Air Force’s first all-woman team of six skydivers made its official debut at the parade.
The team, which underwent a two-year gruelling training in India and the US, jumped out of an AN-32 transport aircraft and went through a series of mid-air formations before touching down the tarmac.
The team also gave its first salute to the IAF Chief soon after touching down.
The sky-divers in the team have been pulled out from several branches of the IAF such as technical, logistics, accounts and education.
Besides, the women sky-diving team, the newly inducted heavy-lift transport aircraft in the IAF C-130 J, was another major attraction at the parade.
After its induction early this year, this was the first time the C-130 J aircraft flew in a public function.
The special operations aircraft, which is based at Hindon, has the capability to take off and land at short runways and in different weather conditions.
Recently the aircraft participated in the relief and rescue operations carried out by defence forces in Sikkim after the earthquake there.
Besides air-lifting troops to carry out relief operations, the aircraft also transported medicines and special equipment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
A total of 35 aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and the MiG 21 Bisons along with Mi-17 choppers took part in the aerial display.