00:00Earlier this morning, I paid homage at the National War Memorial to the brave hearts who made the supreme sacrifice
00:08for our motherland.
00:11Their courage is the standard against which we will measure ourselves.
00:17I take over from Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, under whose leadership in Operation Sindhuur, the Air Force displayed
00:25what precise and decisive air power can achieve.
00:28I thank him for handing over a force in a high state of readiness.
00:34Our security environment remains demanding.
00:38In addition, the character of war is being reshaped by new technologies and systems like drones, long-range precision weapons,
00:48space, cyber, AI and the electromagnetic spectrum.
00:52The Air Force, while transforming into the force that India will need in the next decade, must always be ready
01:01to fight and win.
01:03Our priorities shall be summed up in one word, VAYU.
01:08In VAYU, V is for Vigilance, Victory and Readiness.
01:13Every squadron, every radar, every air defense unit and all the units, along with each and every air warrior, must
01:21be ready to respond at a moment's notice.
01:25Restoring our combat strength towards the sanctioned levels will also be my foremost task.
01:42We will fight with Indian solutions and we will hold them in numbers and to meet sustained operational demands.
01:50Our responsibility is to fight and win, but most importantly, it is to deter conflict through credible air power.
01:58Y is for UKTI or Ingenuity.
02:02Innovation in doctrines, procedures and in technology, network, AI-enabled command and control, layered counter-run defense, responsive maintenance, force
02:14protection, resilience and use of near space as operational domains for the Air Force are all areas which will be
02:23constantly monitored and progressed.
02:26U is for unity of effort.
02:29In step with the vision of Jai, that is jointness, admiral brata and innovation, we will plan and fight as
02:36one along with our army, our navy and our national agencies.
02:42Air power delivers most when it is integrated from the very first plan.
02:48Underpelling all of this are our people, our air warriors, Agni Veer Vayus, civilians, veterans, Veer Naris and their families.
02:57Their training, professional excellence, morale, safety, welfare and dignity will have my personal attention.
03:06To the fellow citizens, please trust that your Air Force is vigilant, ready and resolute.
03:14Our commitment is clear to remain ready, to keep transforming and to deliver whenever the nation calls.
03:21Naba is parasham deeptam.
03:23Jai Hind!
