"India, as per its national policy, is against the use of offensive measures in space...the skies above India are safe and the IAF is there"
SHILLONG: China's 'intention' is not clear despite a statement by Beijing in the wake of its anti-satellite missile test that it is not weaponising space, the IAF chief-designate Air Marshal FH Major said on Thursday.
"China has very clearly stated that it is not weaponising space. But its intention is not very clear at the moment," he told a press conference at the Eastern Air Command headquarters here ahead of taking over his new assignment on March 31.
"India, as per its national policy, is against the use of offensive measures in space...I can assure the people that the skies above them are safe and the IAF is there to offer any kind of help they want," Major said.
China's anti-satellite missile test was not a concern for the IAF alone, he said.
While admitting that a part of his force's fleet is ageing, he said the IAF had not lost its edge.
"Yes, a part of our fleet is ageing. But we have not lost our edge against anybody. We have trained manpower and have equipped them to fight with whatever resources and machines we have," he asserted.
On frequent crashes of MiG aircraft, he said 2005-06 had seen the least number of accidents in the past 22 years. "The IAF has phased out MiG-23s, but upgraded MiG-29s and MiG-27s to give them a new lease of life for the next 15 years."
Phasing out, induction and upgrading of aircraft were a continuous process in any air force, he said.
Major denied there were rumblings in the IAF on his being the first helicopter pilot to be appointed to the top post.
"There are no rumblings in the force," he said.
He also disagreed with a questioner that flying a helicopter was more difficult than piloting an aeroplane.
"Although different skills are required to fly different machines, basic aviation remains the same. It lies in a person," he remarked.
After serving the IAF for many years, he had overall exposure and experience that would be helpful to run the organisation, Major said.
Asked about changes he proposed to make after taking over, Major said: "My aim is to have an absolute, transparent, unambiguous, forthright human resource policy to manage the IAF's huge resources."
He would also follow objectives laid down by his predecessors.
Describing his 18-month tenure as chief of the EAC as 'a fantastic learning curve', Major said he was in a better position to understand the situation in the region and what the armed forces and the IAF needed to do.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}