IAF airlifted over 68k soldiers to eastern Ladakh

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, India's air power capabilities have significantly improved since the Balakot airstrikes and quick changes in eastern Ladakh following the Galwan Valley clashes in terms of hitting targets with precision, defending assets, and use of new technologies.

The IAF Chief stated that India now has a "edge" in its capacity to "react fast, respond fast, and hit fast" on both the Western and Northern fronts, stressing that the introduction of Rafale jets has assisted in bringing the "next level" of operational transformation.

About the drone strike on the Jammu airbase, he said the IAF is taking a series of initiatives including procuring next-generation jammers to deal with such challenges and added that the attack would not have been possible if it was attempted two-three months later. Referring to the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in May, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said that Israel's use of air power in carrying out operations with surgical precision to achieve its objectives in Gaza against the militant group while ensuring minimum collateral damage was a reflection of the ability of the air assets.