Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Friday (January 9, 2026) said that the successful execution of Operation Sindoor has firmly established air power as India’s primary responder and strategic deterrent, underscoring the Indian Air Force’s central role in modern warfare.
Speaking at the first Air Commodore Mehar Singh Memorial Talk at Air Force Station Chandigarh, the IAF chief noted that although Operation Sindoor was short in duration, it was “intense, precise and outcome-driven.”
What did the IAF chief say about Operation Sindoor?
The operation, he said, showcased seamless synchronisation between military leadership and political decision-making, a critical factor in contemporary conflict environments where speed and clarity of intent determine success.
Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasised that the operation highlighted how air power can deliver rapid effects across domains, deter escalation, and provide policymakers with flexible response options.
“The decisive role of air power as the primary responder and deterrent has clearly emerged,” he said, adding that future conflicts will increasingly demand such swift, calibrated responses.
How is the IAF preparing for the future?
Looking ahead, the IAF chief stressed the importance of indigenisation, research and development, jointness and inter-service synergy to strengthen India’s future combat capabilities.
He underlined that self-reliance in aerospace technologies and deeper integration with the Army and Navy would be key to maintaining operational superiority.
What was the background of the IAF chief’s remarks?
The memorial event was organised to honour the enduring legacy of Air Commodore Mehar Singh, widely regarded as one of the founding architects of the Indian Air Force.
Indian Air Force historian Anchit Gupta highlighted Mehar Singh’s pivotal contributions, particularly during the 1947–48 Indo-Pakistan War, when as Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, he played a decisive role in defending Jammu and Kashmir through bold and innovative air operations.
Born in 1915 in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad, Pakistan), Air Commodore Mehar Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra in 1950 for exceptional gallantry and leadership, values that, the IAF leadership noted, continue to guide India’s air warriors today