Circular against VVIP influencing postings is old policy: Air Force

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik today said the recent circular desisting officers and men from approaching VVIPs to influence their postings and promotions was "nothing new" and just a reiteration of its old policy.
    
"This is an old 1986 policy, which is reiterated from time to time...that you should believe in normal promotions and not take recourse to unauthorised channels. There is nothing new in this," Naik told reporters when queried if IAF air warriors used clout with VVIPS to influence their postings and promotions.
    
The IAF has recently issued a circular asking its personnel not to get recommendations from VVIPs in matters relating to their postings and promotions.
    
On the successful testing of the Astra air-to-air beyond-visual-range missile by DRDO yesterday, Naik said he had read it in the newspapers and that he would have to find out the details of the tests.
    
Asked when would the process of integrating the 45-km-range missile on Sukhoi fighter jets take place, the IAF chief said it could happen in about a couple of years.

The DRDO has scheduled the field trials of the Astra missile for later this year. "Normally, a missile takes an year or so by the time all the field trials are over," he said.