Be ready for sudden ops, Dhanoa tells IAF

Asserts it must be ready at short notice

New Delhi, May 20: Indian Air Force Chief B.S. Dhanoa has written a personal letter to officers of the force, asking them to be prepared for operations at a “very short notice” to effectively deal with security challenges, including sub- conventional threat, to the country.

In the letter dated March 30, the IAF Chief also touched upon a range of issues relating to service matters and asked the officers to be morally upright so that the image of the force is not tarnished.

Talking about various security challenges confronting the country, IAF Chief Dhanoa, in an apparent

IN AN apparent reference to Pakistan backing terror groups targeting India, the Air Force chief spoke about persistent “subconventional threat”

reference to Pakistan backing terror groups targeting India, spoke about persistent “sub-conventional threat”, asserting the force should be prepared for operations at a “very short notice”.

“It was a personal letter the IAF chief wrote to the officers covering a wide range of issues that he felt were important,” a senior IAF official said.

In the letter, IAF chief Dhanoa also stressed on the need to mould IAF’s training programme considering the evolving security scenario.

The IAF Chief also talked about the need for the IAF to remain ready for operations with its “present holdings”, seen as a reference to IAF’s depleted strength of 33 squadrons of fighter aircraft instead of sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons.

In the letter, he also talked about the need to remain conscious about the new technological advancements.