Air Force Chief AP Singh said on Wednesday (10 December 2025) that the Indian Air Force is fully prepared to give a befitting reply to the audacity of any enemy country. Participating in the aerial display organized on the occasion of Vijay Diwas being celebrated to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971, Air Chief Marshal Singh said that the Indian Air Force is continuously improving its ‘stealth’ capability and strategy based on past experiences. He told journalists, “If any enemy nation makes any kind of audacity, we are fully prepared to give it a befitting reply.”

Singh stressed that India, especially the Indian Air Force, is ready to fight a two-front war if any emergency arises. Recalling the contribution of the Indian Air Force in the 1971 war, he highlighted the steps that played an important role in India’s victory. Singh said, “The determination with which the Indian Air Force carried out its task, whether it was the daytime operations in November, the final strike or the attack on the Governor’s House in Bangladesh, decisively ended the war.”

Pakistan came to its knees in 13 days

Singh said that during those 13 days of prompt action by the Indian Armed Forces, he saw Pakistan bowing to pressure and appealing for ceasefire. He said, “This operation was not only a major success for the Indian Air Force, but also a major achievement of joint efficiency. “Planned operations like river crossing or air drop would not have been possible without close coordination between the Army and the Air Force.”

What is necessary to win the war

The Indian Air Force Chief said that the way the three forces, including the Navy, worked together with active participation, gave a very important lesson of joint efficiency that joint operations can lead to victory in war on a large scale. Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force celebrated its historic victory in the 1971 war with a spectacular aerial display at Mohanbari Air Force Station in Dibrugarh.

The day long ceremony organized by Eastern Air Command enthralled the general public, dignitaries from military and civil sectors, experienced Air Force seniors and hundreds of enthusiastic school children. Officials said the aerial display involved some of the most powerful aircraft of the Indian Air Force, including Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft, Dornier Do-228 surveillance aircraft, Antonov An-32 transport aircraft and Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters.

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has clearly said that it is very important and will remain today or tomorrow. General Dwivedi’s statement came after the statement of Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh in which he opposed the creation of theater command.

Apart from the release of a book written on Operation Sindoor in the country’s capital Delhi, the Chief of Army, while talking to the media on-camera, said that the theater command will be formed. Because it is very much needed. General Dwivedi also explained why the theater command is needed.

Army Chief gave information about the need for theater command

According to Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, “In today’s time, the battle is not only fighting the army, but BSF, ITBP, ISRO, Civil Aviation, Railways and Intelligence agencies also participate in the fight. In such a situation, the Unity of Command is very important. So the country needs a (top) commander who can give directions to all.”

On the lines of the top armies of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also insisted on creating a common and integrated command of the country’s armies (Army, Air Force and Navy). The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has targeted to create theater command even in its election manifesto of 2024.

The post of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) was also created in the year 2019 so that the process of creating theater commands can be easier. The current CDS General Anil Chauhan and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi are also in favor of creating theater commands in the country.

What did the Air Force chief say about the theater command

However, the Air Force chief has lodged his objection to the creation of theater command. In the Ran-dialogue program held at Army War College, Mhow in Indore last month, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh advocated to maintain an operational responsibility on the shoulders of the heads of the CDS and the three wings of the army instead of creating the theater command.

Air Force strength will be divided by the formation of theater command

The Air Force chief believes that the Air Force has very few fighter jets and other military aircraft. If the theater command is created, then the challenge of distributing the power of the Air Force will be revealed. Currently, there are 17 different commands of Army, Air Force and Navy in the country. Apart from this, there are three (03) shared commands. But under the reform in the defense sector, only 4-5 commands will remain when the Army, Air Force and Navy are formed.

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