Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa inspecting guard of honour on the occasion of 85th Air Force Day at Hindon, Ghaziabad, on Sunday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

IAF’s Suryakiran jet trainers perform on the occasion of 85th Air Force Day Parade at the Air Force Station, Hindon, in Ghaziabad  on Sunday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Hindon (Western UP), October 8The Indian Air Force is ready to fight at a short notice, if the need arises, said IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Sunday morning.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)He was speaking at the Air Force Day parade at Hindon air base located east of the national capital.He paid homage to the seven military personnel who died in a helicopter crash near Tawang on October 6.The IAF Chief, talking to mediapersons, said the copter crash in Tawang on October 6 was prima facie caused as the copter’s tail rotor was dis-engaged.“The exact cause will be known latter. Will not speak more on the issue as the court of inquiry is on,” he said. The Mi-17 v5 copter, like the one that crashed, is flying.On being asked about the role of the women fighter pilots, the IAF chief said, “We intend to put women on MiG 21 jets as these are the best to hone your skills.”Addressing the issue of fighter jets, the IAF Chief said an early decision on the Make in India project (for some 120 single-engine jets) will help matters. The IAF, he said, was progressively reaching network-centric warfare. “We have maintained operational readiness by way of exercises.”He also said the Air Force was acquiring multi-spectrum strategic capabilities and remained committed to building a “joint manship” with the Indian Army and the Navy.Dhanoa said security of all Air Force stations have been enhanced to combat any threat, including sub-conventional threats, after the terrorist attack on the IAF base station in Pathankot last year.In January last year, terrorists sneaked in from across the border and attacked the air base. The attack claimed the lives of seven security personnel while four terrorists were killed. — With agencies