Recent security developments in the Indo-Pacific call for heightened vigilance, credible deterrence, and strengthened regional cooperation, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said on Sunday.
Emphasising the region’s centrality to global security amid rising military activity and strategic contestation, the Air Chief affirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) remains fully committed to safeguarding India’s sovereignty and freedom of action.
Highlighting the IAF’s strategic evolution, Singh noted that the force has transitioned from platform-centric thinking to an integrated, capability-centric model.
He cited Operation Sindoor—the retaliatory strikes on terror camps following the Pahalgam attack—as a validation of this approach, where interconnected sensors, weapons, and networks generated decisive operational effects.
Addressing ongoing military restructuring, Singh provided his perspective on theaterisation, cautioning against permanently dividing fighter assets geographically.
Instead, he advocated for a structure built around India’s specific security requirements rather than blindly replicating foreign models. Guided by “centralised control and decentralised execution,” he urged a phased implementation to ensure operational readiness is never compromised.
