Air chief warns IAF officers to prepare for 'uncalled threat'

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, the Chief of Air Staff, has written a personal letter to each officer in the Indian Air Force, asking them  'to be prepared for operations with our present holdings, at a very short notice'.

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa sent the letter on March 30 when the increasing number of terror attacks on military camps and the rising public unrest in Jammu and Kashmir caused serious concern in the government.

"In the present scenario, there is an ever persistent sub-conventional threat. Therefore, we need to be prepared for operations with our present holdings, at a very short notice. Training needs to be focused towards this," said the letter sent to nearly 12,000 officers of the IAF.

Though Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa did not mention Pakistan by name, his reference to the 'sub-conventional threat'  was seen as a reference to the 'proxy war' by the Pakistan.

This is the first time that an IAF chief has written a personal letter to all officers, although two Army chiefs, Field Marshal (then General) K M Cariappa on May 1, 1950 and General K Sundarji on February 1, 1986 have sent a personal letter to their men.

Alluding to the Air Force facing a shortage of manpower and equipment, the IAF chief said, "There is no choice but to stay abreast of new technological advancements both own as well as that of our adversaries. Only then will we come out with war-winning, out of the box solutions."

The Air Chief Marshal's reference to making the optimum use of  "our present holdings"  appeared to underscore the fact the IAF, which is authorised to have 42 squadrons of fighter aircraft,  has now only 33 squadrons.

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa, who took as IAF chief on December 31 last year, also asked his officers to be "combat effective professionals," saying that "in the recent past, there have been instances and occasions where lack of professionalism has shown the IAF in poor light."

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said "we have been witness to a few instances of 'favouritism' in the selection of officers for prime assignments and promotions" adding, "This is something we can ill afford."

He also warned the erring officials saying, "abusive behaviour, resorting to physical intimidation and behaviour amounting to sexual harassment by seniors is not acceptable."