The 94th Air Force Day was marked on Thursday at Air Force Station Hindan in Ghaziabad, where Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, told the Indian Air Force (IAF) that its true strength lies in its people and not in its machines.

It was his last Air Force Day address as chief. He retires on October 31.

Air Chief Marshal Singh said the world was passing through a period of rapid change and uncertainty, with new conflicts breaking out in several regions and complex geopolitical challenges emerging alongside them.

"These events have clearly demonstrated that air power is the primary means of protecting national interests," he said. "The Indian Air Force, being the custodian of air power, understands its role and responsibilities, and is always alert, committed, and ready to meet any contingency."

94th Air Force Day parade reviewed by the outgoing chief

The Air Chief inspected the ceremonial parade, which was followed by a display of the IAF's frontline combat assets. The three service chiefs, senior military officers and several former IAF chiefs attended.

He arrived at the parade in a white Ford Galaxie V8 as three helicopters flew past in the Dhwaj formation. The 6.4-litre, left-hand drive sedan, inducted in 1969, served as the IAF Chief's staff car for over two decades. It now rolls out only for special events.

Operation Sindoor recalled as proof of combat speed

Looking back at the past year, Air Chief Marshal Singh said the world had seen how quickly the IAF moved into combat during Operation Sindoor. Both its striking power and its air defence were on display during the operation, he said, a period that included IAF strikes on Pakistani air bases and aircraft hangars.

"We are alert, ready to meet any challenges; IAF showed speed of combat operation during Operation Sindoor," the Air Chief said.

He described this year's Air Force Day theme, Infallible, Impervious and Precise, as a statement of the force's strength and resolve rather than a tagline. The Indian Air Force had set the theme ahead of the anniversary celebrations.

Readiness, not hardware, is the measure of an air force

Advanced aircraft and systems alone do not make an air force strong, the Air Chief said, and he set out the yardstick he would apply instead.

"Any Air Force can have the most advanced aircraft in the world or the most advanced systems in the world, but its true strength is measured by its operational preparedness. That is, how quickly and confidently it can act whenever the call comes," he said.

According to Air Chief Marshal Singh, the IAF's operational capability and readiness are moving in the right direction. A culture of ownership and accountability is growing across the force, he said, and commanders are delegating well, encouraging sound decision-making and nurturing leadership at every level. The force, he added, is upholding the core values of the defence services, moving beyond tenure-based mindsets and contributing to nation-building.

"Equipment, technology, and platforms are merely tools; the true source of our success lies in our Air Warriors," he said.

Every Air Warrior a vital link, says Air Chief

He urged personnel to take pride in their duties. "Every Air Warrior is a vital link in our organisation," he said, adding that no one should become "the weak link that compromises the strength of the Air Force chain."

Rafale, Su-30 MKI and Prachand on static display

The IAF put several of its frontline aircraft, helicopters, weapons and air defence systems on static display at Hindan for the 94th Air Force Day. Fighters on show included the Rafale, Su-30 MKI and Jaguar, along with the LCH Prachand and ALH Dhruv helicopters. Critical weapon and air defence systems were showcased alongside them as part of the celebrations.

The IAF was raised on October 8, 1932.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes over on October 31

Air Chief Marshal Singh, 61, also reflected on his tenure and said it had been a matter of pride to lead the force.

"Proud moment for me; serving as IAF chief was my biggest fortune," he said.

His time in office has been marked by a steady push for faster aircraft induction. He has said he hopes the indigenous Tejas Mk1A and more Rafale jets will be acquired under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, and has spoken of his concern over Pakistan's collaboration with China on a fifth-generation fighter. At his annual press conference on October 3, he said the IAF needs 36 to 40 aircraft a year.

The Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday that Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff when Air Chief Marshal Singh retires. His tenure will run until December 31, 2028.

Air Marshal Dixit, born on December 9, 1966, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in December 1986. He has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on aircraft including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Hawk and Tejas, and served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff before becoming Vice Chief.