Rafale Will Give Edge Over China-Pakistan, Always Ready For Balakot-Type Strikes: New IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria

India will be ready to face any challenge, even in case of a war with nuclear aspects, said Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria who too charge as the Chief of Air Staff on Monday. Bhadauria was responding to a question about Pakistan PM Imran Khan's recent threat of nuclear war in case of conflict over Kashmir with India. 

"That is their understanding of nuclear aspects. We have our own understanding, our own analysis. We will be ready to face any challenge," said ACM Bhadauria. 

The new IAF chief said that Rafale will be a game changer in the force's operational capability. Praising Rafale as a capable aircarft, he said it will give India an edge over Pakistan and China.

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said that IAF was better prepared to carry out another Balakot like strike in future. He added that Indian forces were aware of Pakistan reactivating Balakot terror camps and will take necessary action as and when required.

"We were prepared then, we will be prepared next time. We will be ready to face any challenge, any threat," he said. 

ACM Bhadauria took charge as the 26th chief of the Indian Air Force on Monday. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who retired after 41 years of service in the IAF. Air Marshal Bhadauria was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 1980, and has held various command, staff and instructional positions.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Bhadauria was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in June 1980 and won the coveted 'Sword of Honour' for standing first in the overall order of merit.

During his nearly four-decade career, Bhadauria commanded a Jaguar squadron and a premier Air Force Station. He devised a method for carrying bombing from the Jaguar aircraft using the Global Positioning System (GPS). This was especially relevant for the bombing role of Jaguar aircraft in Operation Safed Sagar in 1999. Bhadauria also has 4,250 hours of flying experience on 26 types of fighters and transport aircraft. Bhadauria is one of the few Air Force pilots to fly a Rafale jet.

In July, during Exercise Garuda between the Air Forces of India and France, Bhadauria had flown the Rafale aircraft. He was the Air Attache at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air Head Quarter and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command.

(With Agency Inputs)