Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, who was the vice chief of the air staff, took over as the new chief of the air staff (CAS) on Tuesday.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College, ACM Singh is a qualified flying instructor and an experimental test pilot with more than 5,000 hours of service flying on various fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
As a test pilot, ACM Singh led the Mig-29 Upgrade Project Management Team in Moscow, Russia. He was also the commanding officer of a MiG-27 squadron and air officer commanding an air base.
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During his four-decades-long career, the ACM Singh has tenanted staff appointments as Air Defence Commander at HQ South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command.
In his address to the Indian Air Force after taking over as its new chief, ACM Singh said he is honoured to have been given the responsibility of leading the force.
He expressed faith and confidence in the unstinted support and dedication of air warriors, non combatants (enrolled), DSC personnel, civilians and their families towards maintaining IAF's operational capability at an all-time high.
Highlighting certain focus areas towards building a 'Sashakt, Saksham and an Atmanirbhar' IAF, he urged the commanders to adopt a nurturing leadership and enhance cohesion and jointness of the three services.
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Calling to the attention of the force on the current uncertain geo-political situation, he said, "It is important that the IAF remains operationally capable, ever vigilant and a credible deterrence."
He urged all air warriors to follow traditions of the great service and ensure that together we all "Touch the Sky with Glory".