By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Indian Air Force (IAF) Vice-Chief designate Air Marshal KK Nohwar has reiterated that the IAF is ready to challenge any threat from any of the countries.
Addressing his last press conference as the AoC-in-C of Eastern Air Command here on Wednesday, Air Marshal Nohwar said IAF would never allow any country to violate the Indian airspace and intrude into the country.
Reacting to queries on the growing Chinese aggression, the Nohwar said, “If any of our neighbours tries to intrude into our air space, it will meet the same fate as that met the Atlantique in the Rann of Kutch.”
Nohwar was referring to the incident on August 10, 1999 when a Pakistan Navy patrol plane was shot down by IAF for trespassing into Indian airspace.
Nohwar, however, denied reports that Chinese spy-planes were intruding into Indian airspace.
On IAF modernisation plans, Nohwar said the IAF is improving and upgrading the various infrastructures in the Northeast region.
The IAF has already taken over six Advanced Landing Grounds viz. Tuting, Menchuka, Along, Pasighat, Vijaynagar and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh for upgradation which is expected to be completed in two years.
Further, two helipads at Tawang and Walong in Arunachal are also being developed for better connectivity, the Vice Chief designate added.
Nohwar will take over as the Vice Chief of Air Staff on August 1.