The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, on Tuesday said that the armed forces have "adequate capabilities" to take on any challenge.
Addressing the media ahead of 84th Air Force Day Celebrations in New Delhi, Raha added that it is the national leadership which decides on the action needed to be taken.
When pressed about Indian Army's recent "surgical strikes," he said that the matter was "very sensitive in nature" and declined to take any questions on it.
Speaking about the recently signed deal for 36 Rafale aircraft between the governments of Indian and France, Raha said, "Any air force will be proud to have an aircraft of Rafale class. Proud that the contract has been signed."
He also added that the IAF would like to have more Rafale aircraft, a decision on which will be taken in the "near future." It has also been revealed that IAF is in advanced trails of integrating BrahMos supersonic missile on a modified Su 30 MKI.
"We've already completed a dummy drop. The next step will be to test another parameter, before we fire the actual missile," AVM Sandeep Singh was quoted as saying by Mathrubhumi.
The IAF will be sending a Project Management Team (PMT) to France, as has been the procedure whenever a new aircraft is purchased from a foreign country.
"The whole idea is to get the Rafales with India-specific characteristics, as being often termed. The PMT was part of the teams sent abroad during MiG-21 and MiG-27 upgrades and ahead of Sukhoi induction as well," Singh added.
