President Murmu Praises Future-Ready' IAF's Humanitarian Rescue Operations

Hyderabad: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) was taking steps to be future-ready by equipping itself for a high-technology war, given the overall security situation that is prevalent.

Addressing the combined graduation parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, near here, she said the ability to absorb technology at a rapid pace should be the core of defence preparedness.

She reviewed the graduation parade of the trainee officers, who completed their flying training, and conferred them with brevets.

“The Indian Air Force has a very inspiring motto, ‘Touch the sky with glory, Nabha sparsham deeptam,’ which is taken from the Bhagavad Gita. You all must carry forward the great legacy of the IAF,” she said.

IAF modernisation with the induction of Rafale fighter aircraft and Chinook heavy-lift choppers has strengthened its operational capabilities, said President Murmu, who recalled her recent sortie in a Sukhoo-30 MKI aircraft.

She praised IAF personnel for providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The recent evacuation operation, in which they airlifted more than 600 Indians and other nationals stuck in Kabul to safety, stands testimony to the gutsy spirit of IAF personnel as it involved flying into and landing in a hostile environment. She also recalled similar rescue operations in quake-hit in Turkey and Syria

“Its history is written in golden letters. They demonstrated the same skills in Kargil war and later in the terror strike on Balakot. IAF enjoys a legendary reputation for professionalism and self-sacrifices,” the President said.

She stated that the IAF had a team of women pilots in all roles and branches, adding that this figure was bound to increase substantially.

“Each and every officer of the Armed Forces has to keep in mind an integrated perspective of defence preparedness,” she said.

Approximately 119 trainees from the flying branch and 75 from the ground duty branch received the President’s Commission. Additionally, eight officers each of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, as well as two Vietnamese trainee officers, who completed their training, received their Brevets.

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, DGP Anjani Kumar and minister Satyavathi Rathod attended the event.