Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

'Air Force meets new challenges'

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Dec. 21. The Air Force, which by nature is an "offensive force,'' has quickly learnt to operate in new conditions where it is expected to hit targets inside the borders of the country, said Air Chief Marshal, S. Krishnaswamy, Chief of the Air Staff. "We have learnt not to cross the line and fight with one hand tied behind our back,'' he added.

Air Chief Marshal Krishnaswamy was speaking at a press conference after reviewing the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy at Dindigul near here on Saturday.

Taking part in counter-insurgency operation inside our borders gave lesser area to manoeuvre, much greater public scrutiny and other constraints, he said. The Air Force was learning to tackle these situations by extensive training so that existing technology and weaponry could be used in new and ingenious methods to hit the intended targets while reducing loss of lives.

Reacting to queries about the safety of the Air Force's planes and the steps being taken in view of many air crashes, Air Chief Marshal Krishnaswamy said that while the accident rate had actually come down in recent times, difficulties were being faced in training pilots since the Air Force did not have an Advanced Jet Trainer. Pilots, like the ones who graduated today have to fly MiG-21s which are not meant for training. "These aircraft are meant as fighters, they do not tolerate errors,'' he said and added that MIGs had received unnecessary "bad publicity.''

Air Chief Marshal Krishnaswamy also spoke about the changing needs of the Air Force and the growing importance of technology. He said that much research was being done to get the right people in the service, as the problem today was not of a shortfall in numbers but a need to get people with the required knowledge and skills.

He said that the Air Force was keen to identify and target young men and women in universities and colleges to volunteer for the service. Short service commissions would gain in importance in future, he predicted.

Air Chief Marshal Krishnaswamy expressed happiness at the performance of women officers in the Air Force, adding, "women are here to stay.'' The Air Force was concentrating on building and sensitising its facilities and operational systems to accommodate greater numbers of women, he said. Still he was not willing to commit on entry of women in the coveted fighter pilot branch.

Apart from societal attitudes which very often hold women back, Air Chief Marshal Krishnaswamy said the very nature of combat aircraft training did not allow any breaks as during pregnancy and child birth.

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