Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Thursday said true strength of the air force was measured by its operational preparedness. “How quickly and confidently the IAF can act whenever the call comes is the benchmark,” he stated.He further referred to Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year, saying: “The world witnessed the speed with which the IAF moved into combat operations. We all saw first-hand the destruction as well as the effective air defence operations of the IAF during Operation Sindoor.”He said this while addressing the 94th Air Force Day parade at the Hindon air base, which is located around 20 km east of the national capital.Referring to modern day conflicts, the IAF Chief said air power remained the ‘primary means’ for protecting national interests. The world, he said, was going through rapid changes, uncertainty and intricate geopolitical challenges while new conflicts were emerging across different parts of the world. “These events have clearly demonstrated that airpower is the primary means of protecting national interests,” he added.The Indian Air Force (IAF), being the custodian of air power, understands its roles and responsibilities and is always alert, committed and ready to meet any contingency, Air Chief Marshal Singh said.“Rapid adoption of emerging technologies has become the Air Force’s top priority,” he said in what was his farewell address on Air Force Day. The IAF Chief superannuates on October 31, and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been named as his successor.The true strength of the force, the IAF Chief said, is measured by its operational preparedness. The benchmark, he said, is “how quickly and confidently the IAF can act whenever the call comes”.To buttress his argument, he referred to Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, saying, “The world witnessed the speed with which IAF moved into combat operations. We all saw first-hand the destruction as well as the effective air defence operations of IAF during Operation Sindoor.”For continued growth, IAF believes in embracing new technologies — from hypersonic vehicles to drones and from stealth aircraft to satellites. “We are entering an era shaped by Artificial Intelligence, autonomy and digital innovation,” he added.AI is being used by IAF to help commanders make informed decisions from enormous amounts of data. Autonomous systems are being developed with man in the loop, in line with its goal to create an AI-augmented force.“To ensure IAF remains at the forefront of this transformation, we maintain deep engagement with industry, start-ups and academic institutions,” the IAF Chief said.Space is a natural extension of the air domain. This perspective is exemplified by its growing collaboration with ISRO and the domestic space industry, including its role in the Gaganyaan mission.On ensuring operational capability, he said the IAF is constantly preparing for it. “Whether the task is defending our skies, delivering aid after a disaster, or carrying out punitive strikes, we are constantly preparing for the mission,” he added.IAF has continued to build on that foundation through significant initiatives such as Exercise Vayushakti, Dronathon, and the ongoing multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti.“These efforts are focused on actively validating our combat readiness while swiftly integrating niche technologies into our operational frameworks,” he added.On joint operations with the other services — the Navy and Army — the IAF Chief said modern conflicts demand deep synergy. “Joint planning and integrated combat application with the Army and Navy is not new to us; it is a daily activity.”