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An empowered committee has identified "key thrust areas" and made recommendations for implementation in the short, medium and long terms so as to achieve the desired capability enhancement goals of the Indian Air Force in an "optimal manner", the defence ministry said on Monday. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh presented the report of the Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of the IAF to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. "The committee has identified key thrust areas and made recommendations for implementation in the short, medium and long terms so as to achieve the desired capability enhancement goals of the IAF (Indian Air Force) in an optimal manner," the ministry said in a statement. The report also underscores the need for impetus to enhance 'Aatmanirbharta' in the aerospace domain with the private sector complementing the effort of defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Defence Minister Singh ...
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Wednesday said that every citizen of India is akin to a soldier and that while serving the country in uniform has a different charm, one can also serve the nation even without donning military colours. In his address at the ongoing Republic Day National Cadet Corps (NCC) Camp at Delhi Cantonment, he underlined the ethos of the NCC, noting that this is the place where people from different backgrounds "become one," embodying the essence of India. He said that the young minds of India, trained at the NCC and the Republic Day camp, are being prepared for nation-building, as they are the future of India who will later take up various professions. "I have heard many cadets express a desire to join the armed forces -- the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It's wonderful that you want to, as serving the nation in uniform has a distinct charm. But to serve the nation, one may not necessarily need to wear a uniform. This is something we must remember," the I
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra on Wednesday took charge as the chief of Indian Air Force's Western Air Command that looks after the security of the air space in the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as some other parts of north India. Air Marshal Mishra, a fighter combat leader and an experimental test pilot, has more than 3000 hours of flying experience, according to the IAF. He succeeds Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha, who superannuated after putting in more than 39 years of distinguished service. Air Marshal Mishra was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a fighter pilot on December 6, 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Force Test Pilots School, Bangalore, Air Command and Staff College, the US, and Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK. In his service career spanning over 38 years, the Air Marshal has tenanted important command and staff appointments. These include Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron, chief test pilot at Aircraft and Sy
The number of IAF fighter squadrons has reduced in recent years due to phasing out of ageing variants of the MiG-21, the MiG-23 and the MiG-27 aircraft, and the "shortage" is being addressed through "multi-pronged" approaches to minimise the impact, according to a parliamentary panel report. In the report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Defence also said the Ministry of Defence has informed it of the issue regarding "incidences of spying" surfaced in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the action taken. "That four cases have surfaced in the last five years. All the involved personnel have been dismissed from the IAF. Amongst them, one of the cases has been handed over to civil police -- he is undergoing trial in a civil court," the ministry said. The report is titled 'Second Report (18th Lok Sabha) of the Standing Committee on Defence on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence for the Year 2024-25 on -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Staff and Ex-servicemen
Various cyber security safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information and the location of Indian Air Force personnel and their families as part of an agreement recently signed between the IAF and Uber, the government has said. Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said this in response to a query in Rajya Sabha on whether the government has assessed the "potential data privacy and security risks" arising from the MoU signed between the IAF and Uber for transportation services of IAF personnel, veterans, and their families. The MoU was entered into to provide efficient and safe mobility services for the welfare of personnel (serving as well as retired) and their families, the minister said in his response on November 25. The MoU and Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (MNDA) was signed on October 17, 2024, he said. Seth was also asked to share details of any specific measures being put in place to protect the location data of IAF members and prevent tracking of operational
A leading cab aggregator has joined hands with the IAF to offer mobility solutions for official travel and commute of air force personnel and their families, according to an official statement issued on Thursday. An MoU was signed between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Uber to that effect, a senior official said. "This partnership aims to provide reliable, convenient, and safe transportation services for IAF personnel, veterans and families," the statement said. Through the collaboration, the IAF will leverage Uber for Business, a platform that enables organisations to customise Uber's extensive scale and comprehensive travel benefits, ensuring a seamless commuting experience, it said. The company will also facilitate effective change management for official travel and daily commutes, while offering enterprise benefits tailored to the unique needs of the IAF, it said. "The collaboration with Uber represents an important step in the journey towards enhanced mobility solutions for A
ISRO said on Monday its Chairman S Somanath has received the International Astronautical Federation's (IAF) prestigious World Space Award for Chandrayaan-3's remarkable achievement. "This recognition celebrates India's contributions to space exploration. Celebrations underway in Milan (Italy) as we continue to strive for new frontiers, the national agency headquartered here said in an online post. According to the IAF, Chandrayaan-3 mission by ISRO exemplifies the synergy of scientific curiosity and cost-effective engineering, symbolising India's commitment to excellence and the vast potential that space exploration offers humanity. Rapidly unveiling previously undiscovered facets of the Moon's composition and geology, the mission stands as a global testament to innovation. Achieving a historic milestone, Chandrayaan-3 becomes the first to touch down near the lunar South Pole, showcasing both aspiration and technological prowess on an international scale, the IAF said in a ...
Bolstered by the historic victory of partner BJP in the Haryana assembly polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday declared his ruling alliance Mahayuti was ready for both flight and fight in the election-bound state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw a punch that floored the opposition in Haryana, he said, stressing that the same should be done in Maharashtra. Addressing the media after witnessing the trial landing of an IAF aircraft at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport at Ulwe in adjoining Raigad district, he said his government was making efforts to start commercial operations from the airport ahead of the stated deadline of March 31, 2025. Shinde is leading a tripartite coalition government comprising his party Shiv Sena, the BJP and the NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Today, an Indian Air Force C295 aircraft made a successful test landing at the runway at the Navi Mumbai International Airport. We are ready for both flight and fight," Shinde said
An Indian Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing in a waterlogged area in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Wednesday after it developed a snag, officials said. Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar said the helicopter was coming from adjoining Darbhanga after air-dropping relief material to flood-hit people. "The helicopter made an emergency landing in a waterlogged area in Aurai block. All the occupants were IAF personnel and they were pulled out by locals by the time officials reached the spot," said the SSP. District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said, "All four occupants appear safe and unharmed. However, as a precaution, they are being taken to a local hospital for check-up and treatment, if required.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India's aim is to walk hand in hand together at a time some countries are at war with each other. He also asked friendly nations to elevate their partnership and collaboration to new heights in view of the evolving global challenges. "Today, there is a race in the world to get ahead of each other, wars are going on between countries at different places. In this changing situation, India's goal is that we hold each other's hands and walk together," he said while speaking at 'Tarang Shakti' -- the largest multilateral air exercise in India hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the air base here. "Seeing the way the world is changing and new challenges are emerging, we need to take our partnership and collaboration to new heights," he said. Singh's remarks come in the backdrop of calls for India's potential role in pushing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine as New Delhi has good relations with both the nations. The minister said I
An FIR has been registered against a Wing Commander following complaints of rape by a woman flying officer, officials said here on Tuesday. Both the IAF officers are currently stationed in Srinagar. After the complaint, the FIR under "relevant sections of the law" was filed at Budgam police station in central Kashmir on Saturday, a senior police officer said. The IAF said it is cooperating with the police. "We are aware of the case. The Air Force Station in Srinagar was approached by the local Budgam police station on the subject. We are fully cooperating towards this case," a senior IAF official said.
The IAF's Chinook and MI17 helicopters on Friday joined the rescue operations in Uttarakhand to evacuate over 500 pilgrims stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath, with 10 of them being airlifted in the first round. The route suffered extensive damage as a result of a cloudburst in Junglechatti near Lincholi on Wednesday night. Ten pilgrims were airlifted by MI17 helicopter on Friday morning and dropped at Gauchar airstrip, officials here said. Two helpline numbers -- 7579257572 and 01364-233387 -- and one emergency number 112 have also been issued by the district administration to help people get information about their stranded kin among the pilgrims, they said. The pilgrims had got stranded beyond Bhimbali along Gaurikund-Kedarnath trek route when a 20-25 metre stretch of the road was washed out by the violent currents of the Mandakini on Wednesday night. The trek route to the Himalayan temple is blocked by boulders at Ghoraparav, Lincholi, Badi Lincholi and ...