BENGALURU, Sep 13: The first batch of Women Agniveer Vayu (AGV) is undergoing training at the Airmen Training School at Belagavi, and 10 of these are expected to report to Yelahanka Air Force Station in December for undergoing 8-week long system training.
Air Commodore Rohith Vijayadev told on the sidelines of “Media Orientation Capsule” organised by the Indian Air Force at Yelahanka Air Force Station here on Wednesday. In addition, the first batch of Agniveer Vayu have been posted to different Indian Air Force units, and Yelahanka Air Force Station has also been chosen as one of the few pilot stations to post Agniveer Vayu, Air Commodore Vijayadev said.
“As per as policy, 25% out of the Agniveer Vayu would be retained,” he added. Asked about the key challenges that the Indian Air force is facing in implementation of the Agnipath scheme for women and how it plans to overcome them, Air Commodore Vijayadev said many infrastructure changes were required to be taken, and most of them have been done. “Other than infrastructure requirements, the air warriors are also regularly sensitized about the change in working environment in near future,” he stated.
However, the Indian Air Force is always ready in terms of operations, administration or training, which shows the flexible working style of the armed forces, Air Commodore Vijayadev said. Asked how effective the Agnipath scheme in ensuring defence preparedness and national security, Air Commodore Vijayadev said it can be only achieved when maximum population experiences the militariness and learns combat techniques to render help whenever required. In this scheme, the young generation is getting an opportunity to experience the military way of life for a short duration which further gives them an opportunity to change the profession in future, he said.
“So far the scheme has got a very encouraging response,” he added. Asked what steps the Indian Air Force is taking to modernise its fleet and enhance its capabilities, especially in light of emerging technology and potential achievements of adversaries, Air Commodore Vijayadev said the defence procurement and modernisations are complex processes involving various factors, including budget constraints, geopolitical considerations and strategic priorities. The Indian Air Force is likely to prioritize a well-balanced approach that optimises resources to address current and future threats effectively, he said.
Asked about IAF’s readiness to respond to any security threats or challenges in the region, Air Commodore Vijayadev said it is always ready to respond to any security threat or challenges in the region, and the same has also been proven in the past. “The Indian Air Force is always working towards ensuring the safety of our countrymen but not allowing any intrusion into our airspace,” he said. (UNI)