Hyderabad: The Indian Air Force (IAF) demonstrated its precision, power and preparedness during Operation Sindoor, which stood out as a testament to the force’s combat capability and operational synergy, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, IAF, said on Saturday.
The air chief was addressing the graduating cadets at the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) held at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, near Hyderabad in Telangana.
“Operation Sindoor stands as a shining testament to the unparalleled prowess of the Indian Air Force wherein we demonstrated our capability to deliver swift, precise and decisive blows to the enemy. You, as the future of this Air Force, must understand that the Air Force has been and will always remain the first responder,” he said.
“It is our collective responsibility to live up to the trust placed in the Indian Air Force by every citizen of India, and we must be ready and prepared for this,” Air Chief Marshal Singh added.
He reviewed the parade and conferred the President’s Commission on 254 flight cadets, including 36 women from the flying and ground duty branches of the IAF, formally inducting them into service. The event also marked the successful completion of flying training by nine Indian Navy officers, seven Indian Coast Guard officers, and one officer from the Vietnam People’s Air Force, who were awarded their ‘Wings’.
Urging the young officers to remain physically and mentally fit, Air Chief Marshal Singh said: “You must be totally committed, focused, innovative and passionate. Your strength will not just lie in individual excellence but in the collective spirit of your team. No branch operates in isolation, each one of us plays a vital role in safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of our nation.”
Flying Officer Rohan Krishnamurthy, from the flying branch, was awarded the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour and the President’s Plaque for standing first in the overall order of merit among pilots. Flying Officer Nishtha Vaid received the President’s Plaque for topping the ground duty officers’ course.