India must enhance its air power:Marshal IAF

The first ever Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh has called for building an Air Force with an "offencive power and the ability" to take on any hostile country.

"The situation around us is changing very fast because of a few hostile countries which are our neighbours. Our approach would need to be different and we have to build up an Air Force which has the ability to face them," he said.

Marshal Arjan Singh(92), who joined IAF in 1939, was speaking to reporters after reviewing the Combined Graduation Parade of the flight cadets of all the branches of the IAF at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal on the city outskirts.

"We hardly have any friendly countries around us...they are hostile. And therefore the approach has to be that we must have an Air Force which has offencive power and can attack properly in case of need," he said.

The former IAF chief stressed on the need for future planning for building a modern Air Force that could serve our long term needs as hostility with the (neighbouring) countries was not going to diminish "just like that."

"Every country now respects strength not only in terms of defence capability but also economic strength. And it must be realised that both of them are linked and we have a long way to go there," Singh said.

Asked on the role of Air Force in wars, he said "Since World War-II, land forces have played a big part. But now Air Force is playing important role in wars like in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, initially the action is taken by Air Force so that it becomes easier for the land forces to face the attack," he added.

Replying to a query, Arjan Singh said "All the armed forces need to be kept upto date in modern equipment. If you don't have good equipment, the moral of the service goes down.

We must be prepared to face any kind of dangers with strong economy and strong armed forces."

"In my opinion...Indian Air Force has lately taken many steps to modernise the force. Armed forces are very expensive business and the government is giving them lot of money required," he added.

Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade of the flight cadets of all the branches of the Indian Air Force, who successfully completed their basic and professional training, Arjan Singh cautioned them about getting overconfident.

"Overconfidence can do immense harm and at time, results in serious consequences. I speak to you from experience...to avoid overconfidence," he advised.

"As you go up the ladder in armed forces...you have high responsibilities. Happiness in service can come only if you prove your ability at every level and in every job assigned to you for that you have to put in hard work and honesty. I have always maintained that hard work is never wasted," he said.

"Our Air Force has now been equipped with the most advanced instruments of all and you (flight cadets) have much more higher responsibility in maintaining and using them for maximum effect," Arjan Singh added.

A total of 142 flight cadets comprising 22 women flight cadets passed out of the Air Force Academy and joined the main stream of the Indian Air Force in their respective branches.

Flying Officer Tejas Subhash Kawale, who commanded the parade, was awarded the President's Plaque and Chief of Air Staff 'Sword of Honour' for standing first in overall order of merit in Pilot Course.