2008 will be etched in the annals of IAF history as the year the force for the first time participated in the US sponsored Red Flag Exercise conducted from Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas in Nevada.

Excellence—and the relentless pursuit of it—has been the hallmark of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The effort has been to identify, train, integrate and assimilate the most effective and indubitably remarkable of human resources and technology in an enviable combination to propel the force towards greater heights of battle preparedness and operational readiness. Celebrating the 76th year of its inception, this special edition of SP’s Aviation showcases the multifarious activities and achievements of the IAF that has done the nation proud.

2008 will be etched in the annals of IAF history as the year the force for the first time participated in the US sponsored Red Flag Exercise conducted from Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas in Nevada. On July 7, eight Su-30MKIs of No. 20 squadron ex-Pune with two IL-78 mid-air refuellers and an IL-76 transport support aircraft of No. 78 and No. 44 squadron, respectively, left the Indian shores, winging their way halfway across the globe into western hemisphere to participate in the multi-national routine. Echoes of high praise emanating from the USAF air base apparently reached the Middle East. On the return journey, IAF’s Red Flag participants were specially invited by the UAE Air Chief to take part in the joint exercise, Desert Eagle, with the host air force.

In his special address, Chief of the Air Staff observes: The Indian Air Force is one of the oldest independently functioning air forces of the world. It has grown from very humble beginnings, to be a very respected and professional force, whose competence is recognised worldwide. This special edition of SP’s Aviation delves into the competence areas, drawing attention to the key aspects of human resource development and management, capability of the IAF to absorb new technologies and training. Promotions, postings and placements of officers and airmen are the responsibility of the Personnel Branch. But unlike the earlier system which was based entirely on seniority, the New Promotion Policy takes both merit and seniority into consideration.

While on the subject of merit, the IAF’s enviable record of successfully inducting technologically advanced aircraft and equipment comes into sharp focus. Post emergence of the Air Power Doctrine in 1997, the IAF consistently emphasises the acquisition of force multipliers. To this end, all major acquisitions now seek to have a strong technological underpinning as well as multi-role capability so that the same aircraft can be used for diverse missions without undue difficulty.

Training and expert guidance to discipline and mold the human mind to gain mastery over machine completes the circle of excellence. While the emphasis is on ensuring that every air warrior is imparted with requisite skills during the formative years, equally important are the values imbibed by them during training.

However, merely being a modern force in the emerging world order is not enough. LastWord lays stress that the IAF needs to be a partner in the development of aircraft and weapon systems by the Indian defence and aerospace industries as also the various R&D organisations within the country and not merely a potential customer who has the easy option to turn to external sources for hardware.

Our heartfelt gratitude to the Chief of the Air Staff and his office, and the ACAS-Ops (Space) for their contribution and support to this special edition. Hope these pages transcend the boundaries of an enjoyable read and prove to be a revelation.