Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Friday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) was ready to respond to any terror strike from Pakistan as per the Government’s decision on it.
Speaking at the annual Air Force Day press conference, Bhadauria said that the IAF has achieved many important milestones in the last one year including the 26 February airstrikes in which terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot were successfully targeted.
On the issue of small drones being used by Pakistan to drop weapons on the Indian side, the IAF chief said that small drones are a new threat and some procurements are already in process to tackle the issue. It is a space violation issue and necessary action has been initiated in this aspect, he said.
Bhadauria further said that the Rafale fighter jets and S-400 Air Defence missile system will further bolster the capability of the Indian Air Force.
Bhadauria had played a key role on behalf of India in the inter-governmental negotiations with France before signing the deal for acquiring 36 Rafale combat jets in flyaway condition from French aviation major Dassault.
Soon after taking over as the new Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Bhadauria had on Monday said that India is ready to deal with any kind of external threat.
Asked if India was ready to deliver another blow to terror launch pads in Pakistan like the Balakot airstrike earlier this year, Bhadauria told a private news channel: “We were prepared at that point of time. We are ever more prepared now. We are fully capable of meeting any challenge, any requirement and any mission.”