Aerospace power is the key to future warfare: Chief of Air Staff

File picture of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
| Photo Credit: PTI

“With each passing year, the relevance of aerospace power continues to grow, shaping the future of warfare and defence. The branches you represent today are all integral to this power, forming the backbone of our operations,” said Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Amar Preet Singh while addressing the graduating officers of the Indian Air Force at the Combined Graduation Parade held at the Air Force Academy Dundigal on Saturday (December 14, 2024).

The Air Chief Marshal further said, “Remember, no branch operates in isolation. Success in our mission relies on collaboration and learning from one another, whether in the skies or on the ground. I urge you to maintain an unrelenting quest for knowledge, it should be a lifelong pursuit. At the same time, prioritise a healthy lifestyle, focusing on both physical and mental fitness.”

The Indian Air Force (IAF) marked the successful completion of training for 204 flight cadets from its flying and ground duty branches with a Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Telangana, on Saturday (December 14).

The event was presided over by Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, who conferred the President’s Commission on the graduating cadets. Among the newly commissioned officers were 26 women, inducted across various branches of the IAF. The ceremony also celebrated the achievements of nine officers from the Indian Navy, nine from the Indian Coast Guard, and one officer from Vietnam People’s Air Force, who were awarded ‘Wings’ upon completing their flying training.

Flying officer Parag Dhankhar from the flying branch was awarded the President’s Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in the overall order of merit in the pilots’ course. Flying officer Ram Prasad Gurjar was awarded the President’s Plaque for being first in the overall order of merit in the ground duty officers course.

A highlight of the parade was the commissioning of the inaugural batch of officers into the IAF’s newly-established Weapon Systems Branch. The Weapons Systems School (WSS), launched in July at Air Force Station Begumpet, is designed to deliver contemporary, effect-based training tailored to meet the operational needs of the IAF.

The new branch will have four specialised streams: the Flying Stream, responsible for operating advanced weaponry and systems aboard platforms like the Sukhoi-30 MKI and C-130J; the Remote Stream, focused on managing Remotely Piloted Aircraft; the Mission Command and Operators stream, tasked with handling Surface-to-Air and Surface-to-Surface weapon systems; and the Intelligence Stream, dedicated to space-based intelligence and imagery.

The parade concluded with the newly commissioned officers marching out in two columns, performing a slow march to the stirring notes of Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Anandaloke.’ The finale of the CGP featured an aerobatic display by the Su-30MKI, synchronised aerobatics by the helicopter display team ‘Sarang,’ and a performance by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team.