New Delhi: Asserting that the Indian Air Force has been preparing for all kinds of security challenges including “worst-case scenario,” Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari was emphatic that the IAF is fully ready to face any situation.

Addressing the media ahead of 90th Indian Air Force Day celebrations on October 8, IAF chief said that IAF continues “to be operationally deployed and ever vigilant,” and that it  continues to monitor all Chinese activities along the LAC. He announced 10 per cent reservation for females under the Agniveer scheme in the Indian Air force.

“We’re looking at the fleets where we can use them and grow as time comes. We will accept them in the trade and fleet with an open mind.” ACM Chaudhari said. “IAF will start the process of induction of women cadets as Agniveers from next year.”

“As an organisation IAF is gender agnostic and recognises merit and performance above everything else,” he said. “A high ratio of women officers in the IAF is testimony to our commitment in providing equal opportunity and a level playing field for every individual irrespective of gender.” Meantime, around 3,000 male Agniveers are set to join the IAF later this year in December.

On the recent incidents involving Chinese fighter jets flying close to the LAC,  he said appropriate non-escalatory measures have been taken and a message was sent to the neighbouring country. “Our overall preparation is a continuous process irrespective of Chinese belligerence,” he said.

To a question, he said the benchmark for the situation to return to normal in eastern Ladakh would be to return to status quo ante and completion of disengagement in all friction points.

Referring to the ambitious theaterisation plan, the Air Chief Marshal said the IAF understands imperatives of joint planning and execution with sister forces for future wars. We are not opposed to tri-services integration; our reservations are relating to only certain structures. The model of integration that India adopts must be future-ready, must reduce levels of decision-making, and capitalise on the strength of all three services.

“We’re not opposing any process of creating theatre commands. We’ve certain reservations with respect to structures. We’re fully supporting the integration process and the structures should be future ready, synergise the core competencies.” IAF chief said.

“We need an organisational structure that is best suited for Indian conditions and our geopolitical imperatives,” he said. ACM Chaudhari pointed out that the IAF has recently updated and revised its doctrine to keep it relevant.

He said recent developments at the global stage show the need for a strong military to ward off any challenge. Therefore, the armed forces in general and the IAF in particular, would continue to remain a lynchpin in the national security matrix both as a coercive deterrent as well as a war-winning instrument.

India is the prepared if it comes to a long-duration conflict like the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The environment around us remains hostile and there would be a requirement for 42 squadrons of fighter aircraft by the Indian Air Force. We have to see the case of China and Pakistan also. Indian air force will be looking to induct LCA Mk 1A, HTT-40 trainers, indigenous weapons & different radars. The LCH was inducted into the Air Force yesterday and soon the helicopter will add teeth to the IAF’s strike capability. Air force is also expediting the operationalization of recently inducted systems like Rafale, LCA and S-400 among others.

“We are confident that with the domestic industries stepping up, we will be able to overcome any shortfalls in spares that we’ve been traditionally acquiring from Ukraine and Russia,” asserted IAF Chief. The IAF is in sync with the government on self-reliance in defence production, Air Chief Chaudhari added.

The Indian Air force has been upgrading the Su-30 with indigenous weapons like the Astra air-to-air missile and the BRAHMOS missiles. One of the MiG-21 squadrons was phased out and it has been replaced by a MiG-29 squadron in Srinagar. The squadrons of Jaguar would start getting number plated by 2025-26 and by the middle of next decade, all squadrons of Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 would be phased out.

The 90th IAF Day celebrations will take place in Chandigarh this year.