Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his best wishes to the personnel of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and their families on the occasion of Air Force Day, even as Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said the force would always protect India’s territory and deter potential adversaries.
In an official statement issued on the occasion of the IAF’s 91st anniversary, Modi said: “Best wishes to all air warriors and their families on Air Force Day. India is proud of the valour, commitment and dedication of the Indian Air Force. Their great service and sacrifice ensure our skies are safe.”
Addressing air warriors to mark the occasion, Chief of Air Staff Chaudhari said the IAF must remain vigilant in view of the "new and emerging threats" in the world.
He also asserted that the IAF will continue to protect the country’s territory and interests.
“We must reform, or become a relic; we must innovate, else become mundane and we must transform, else become irrelevant," he said.
"If India is on the path to become a developed nation by 2047, then the IAF must be one of the best, if not the best, by the time we complete 100 years in 2032," the IAF top officer said.
It’s an historic event observed every year on October 8 to mark the establishment of the IAF in 1932.