News for 'Western Air Command Headquarters'

US loses aircraft during Iran op, IRGC claims it was shot down

US loses aircraft during Iran op, IRGC claims it was shot down

Rediff.com13 Mar 2026

Iran's state media cited the spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Iran's military to claim that a United States military refuelling plane was shot down by a missile fired by resistance groups in western Iraq. The spokesperson further told Press TV that all six service members on board had been killed.

Israel strikes 200 targets, Iran warns of retaliation

Israel strikes 200 targets, Iran warns of retaliation

Rediff.com13 Mar 2026

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said it struck several targets in Tehran, Shiraz and Ahvaz simultaneously over the past 24 hours, targeting sites linked to Iran's ballistic missile programme, air defence systems and military headquarters.

All 6 crew members killed after US refuelling aircraft crashes in Iraq

All 6 crew members killed after US refuelling aircraft crashes in Iraq

Rediff.com14 Mar 2026

Rescue operations are currently underway, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, the command said.

French soldier killed, several injured in attack in Iraq

French soldier killed, several injured in attack in Iraq

Rediff.com13 Mar 2026

A French soldier was killed while several others were injured in an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed. Macron, in a post on X, confirmed that Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Battalion of Chasseurs Alpins lost his life in the attack.

Trishul 2025 Signals New Era in Fighting Wars

Trishul 2025 Signals New Era in Fighting Wars

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

After Operation Sindoor, the Army and Navy now view the IAF as not a supporting arm, but the spearhead of India's warfighting capability, capable of decisive outcomes across domains, explains Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).

'Pak's arms shopping spree post Op Sindoor concerning'

'Pak's arms shopping spree post Op Sindoor concerning'

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

Vice Admiral K Swaminathan highlights concerns over Pakistan's arms procurement and China's growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean Region.

'Rein In Terrorism Or Face India's Military Strikes'

'Rein In Terrorism Or Face India's Military Strikes'

Rediff.com29 May 2025

'With a military-led strategy to counter terrorism emanating from Pakistan, India has clearly signalled that it would respond decisively to future terrorist threats.'

Rawat outlines plan to merge 17 single service commands into 4

Rawat outlines plan to merge 17 single service commands into 4

Rediff.com16 Sep 2021

The first joint theatre command would be responsible for the border against Pakistan in what the military refers to as the "western theatre"; while a second command -- the northern theatre command -- would be responsible for the border with China. A third, navy-heavy theatre, called the "maritime command" will be responsible for the security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR); and an island command, already functional and called the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), would project power into the eastern Indian Ocean.

Ukraine's biggest air attack destroys 40 Russian warplanes

Ukraine's biggest air attack destroys 40 Russian warplanes

Rediff.com2 Jun 2025

Ukrainian forces conducted large-scale drone strikes on several air bases deep inside Russia, destroying multiple combat planes, Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said on Sunday.

IAF Shows Its Fighting Skills

IAF Shows Its Fighting Skills

Rediff.com13 Oct 2022

Glimpses from the Indian Air Force air show in Udhampur.

IAF not losing pilots to private airlines

IAF not losing pilots to private airlines

Rediff.com16 Jan 2006

Indian Air Force chief Air Marshal S P Tyagi on Monday denied that private airliners were luring away IAF pilots by offering them attractive salaries.\n\n

We don't have enough fighter aircraft: IAF chief

We don't have enough fighter aircraft: IAF chief

Rediff.com23 Sep 2009

Indian Air Force Chief P V Naik on Wednesday downplayed the Chinese threat, saying there have not been any air incursions along the Line of Actual Control. Air Chief Marshal Naik said, "Our strategy is to play it cool. We are not downplaying anything. As far as the Air Force is concerned, there has been no reason to downplay anything. There have not been any incursions reported at the LAC." He also hinted that the Indian Air Force is upscaling its strength.

INS Tamal armed with BrahMos joins Navy as last foreign-built frigate

INS Tamal armed with BrahMos joins Navy as last foreign-built frigate

Rediff.com1 Jul 2025

INS Tamal is the eighth Krivak class frigates to be inducted from Russia over the past two decades.

'Wahan se goli, toh yahan se gola': Modi told armed forces

'Wahan se goli, toh yahan se gola': Modi told armed forces

Rediff.com11 May 2025

India has called Pakistan's nuclear bluff with Operation Sindoor and sent a psychological message to state-sponsored terrorists: nobody is untouchable and no place in Pakistan is safe for you, government sources said on Sunday.

India Must Be Ready For Next War With Pakistan

India Must Be Ready For Next War With Pakistan

Rediff.com15 Jul 2025

India has to fill in all the critical gaps in missiles, ammunition, sensors and stockpile in the fastest possible manner, focusing on the critical instruments that worked this time, asserts Shekhar Gupta.

9 tri-services commanders discuss maritime theatre command's creation

9 tri-services commanders discuss maritime theatre command's creation

Rediff.com25 Feb 2022

The meeting was conducted over a period of two days from February 24 to 25.

When India Threatened Lahore To Stop Pakistan's Moves In J&K

When India Threatened Lahore To Stop Pakistan's Moves In J&K

Rediff.com28 May 2025

In what was perhaps the most critical meeting before full-scale war broke out, Shastri defined India's immediate war objectives to his defence minister, army, and air force chiefs: 'To defend against Pakistan's attempts to grab Kashmir by force and to make it abundantly clear that Pakistan would never be allowed to wrest Kashmir from India; To destroy the offensive power of Pakistan's armed forces...' A fascinating excerpt from Shiv Kunal Verma's must-read 1965: A Western Sunrise India's War With Pakistan.

Is India ready for a Maritime Theatre Command?

Is India ready for a Maritime Theatre Command?

Rediff.com7 Jan 2021

Mere shuffling of resources or cosmetic changes to prove a point would be counterproductive in the long run, observes Commodore Venugoptal Menon (retd).

Israel Took 6 Days, India Nailed In 2!

Israel Took 6 Days, India Nailed In 2!

Rediff.com15 May 2025

'For weeks, months and years, it would continue to be debated if India should have pushed the early advantage and decapacitated Pakistan militarily.' 'India refused to bite the provocatively proverbial bullet and escalate it into a full-fledged war,' notes N Sathiya Moorthy.

INS Vikrant To Enhance Maritime Power

INS Vikrant To Enhance Maritime Power

Rediff.com29 Sep 2024

The resumption of two-carrier operations signals India's return to the elite clutch of navies that have the ship platforms and experience for operations that simultaneously involve more than one aircraft carrier.

Fire on INS Brahmaputra: Body of missing sailor found

Fire on INS Brahmaputra: Body of missing sailor found

Rediff.com24 Jul 2024

The Navy Chief issued directions to make INS Brahmaputra seaworthy and combat ready.

India's military is changing, and how!

India's military is changing, and how!

Rediff.com12 Apr 2021

The creation of a CDS has got the head right. Issues that were not talked about for years are now being discussed, points out Ajai Shukla.

Top Hamas commanders linked to Oct 7 attack killed

Top Hamas commanders linked to Oct 7 attack killed

Rediff.com15 Oct 2023

Lt Col Hecht spoke as the Israel Air Force killed Merad Abu Merad, Hamas' head of aerial activity, in Gaza City, who it said was responsible for directing terrorists during the October 7 massacre of Israelis in the western Negev.

Gen Manoj Pande takes charge as Army chief

Gen Manoj Pande takes charge as Army chief

Rediff.com30 Apr 2022

Gen Pande, who was serving as the vice chief, became the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to helm the force.

Landing a plane at the world's highest airfield

Landing a plane at the world's highest airfield

Rediff.com15 Jun 2020

The sortie had to be executed in good weather and in sub-zero temperatures, which meant it was to be accomplished by mid or third week in May before the earth heated up and the monsoon clouds made things difficult.

Why Theaterisation Of Armed Forces Is Important

Why Theaterisation Of Armed Forces Is Important

Rediff.com5 Sep 2023

As India progresses towards formulating its own model of theaterisation, the public must get involved in the debate because in the end, it affects the well-being of the entire nation, asserts Biswajit Dasgupta.

How UPA Govt Failed To Honour Sam Manekshaw

How UPA Govt Failed To Honour Sam Manekshaw

Rediff.com1 Jan 2024

'We failed as a country because those who should have been there to say goodbye did not show up.'

This is no way to run a modern military

This is no way to run a modern military

Rediff.com27 Jul 2018

The Chinese have just one commander for all the forces confronting India. Commanders of all these forces answer to one man, and one headquarter. India, on the other hand, offers a diversity of options that is a military embarrassment in the 21st century. In Arunachal and Sikkim-Bhutan, the Eastern Army Commander is in charge. In the Uttarakhand (central) sector, it will be the Central Army Commander. The Himachal-Tibet border is the domain of the Western Army Commander. And all of Kashmir and Ladakh further on, the Northern Army's. Effectively, an array of at least eight 'three-star' commanders will be arrayed against one Chinese, says Shekhar Gupta.

G20 summit: IAF deploying fighter jets, missiles to guard NCR's skies

G20 summit: IAF deploying fighter jets, missiles to guard NCR's skies

Rediff.com2 Sep 2023

The IAF has already set up a dedicated operations direction centre for coordinating various aspects of the arrangements with security agencies concerned, they said.

Why is Gen Rawat rushing with Theatre Commands?

Why is Gen Rawat rushing with Theatre Commands?

Rediff.com29 Jun 2021

The tearing hurry to form theatre commands has to be replaced by a balanced and deliberate approach. We need to accept that this process will take time if executed correctly and in the best interests of the Indian armed forces, argues Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

'China doesn't want war'

'China doesn't want war'

Rediff.com29 Jun 2020

'China would rather tie us down; and bleed us as much as it can so that we aren't able to lift our heads to face them.'

Gen Rawat's chopper crash: All possible angles being probed

Gen Rawat's chopper crash: All possible angles being probed

Rediff.com10 Dec 2021

The black box, comprising the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), of the ill-fated Mi-17V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force was recovered from the crash site on Thursday.

'We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy'

'We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy'

Rediff.com10 May 2023

'Unlike on the western and eastern borders where there is an enemy at the gate, here there is an invisible enemy which is building its own capability and can come into play at a time and place of his choosing.'

How IAF choppers helped General Sagat liberate Bangladesh

How IAF choppers helped General Sagat liberate Bangladesh

Rediff.com24 Dec 2020

The retreating Pakistani troops were heading towards Dacca and they had to be stopped at all costs. The Eastern Army Commander, in his orders to General Sagat Singh, had reiterated that he did not want the troops of 4 Corps to cross the Meghna river. But General Sagat had other plans to threaten Dacca and ensure that the pressure would make the Pakistani commanders capitulate. This is where the IAF helicopters came in.

How To Prevent Terror On The High Seas

How To Prevent Terror On The High Seas

Rediff.com17 Apr 2024

The world needs to wake up to this new dimension of war at sea and be prepared to face the 'unknown enemy' who have the advantage of attacking at their choice of location and time, cautions Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

DRDO Biggest Hindrance To Atmanirbharta In Defence

DRDO Biggest Hindrance To Atmanirbharta In Defence

Rediff.com26 Mar 2024

DRDO's failures over the decades have contributed significantly to India becoming the world's biggest weapons importer, points out Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd).

Over 3 lakh people evacuated as Cyclone Vayu set to hit Guj

Over 3 lakh people evacuated as Cyclone Vayu set to hit Guj

Rediff.com12 Jun 2019

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force started landing in Gujarat with the help of the Indian Air Force to undertake preventive evacuation of people living on the west coast, an IAF official said.

Brilliant commanders and brave men won India the 1971 War

Brilliant commanders and brave men won India the 1971 War

Rediff.com4 Dec 2017

The 1971 war reaffirmed the importance of inspirational senior leadership in battle and heralded the emergence of a new fighting class amongst officers and men of India's armed forces.

An epitome of military leadership

An epitome of military leadership

Rediff.com16 Sep 2017

Arjan Singh, the Marshal of the Indian Air Force, was a fearless and exceptional pilot and remained a source of inspiration to all personnel of the Armed Forces through the years.

My father created the SFF, I commanded it

My father created the SFF, I commanded it

Rediff.com22 Sep 2020

Major General Sujan Singh Uban, a legendary veteran of the Second World War, was a natural choice to raise, train and command the Special Frontier Force and mould them into a well oiled fighting machine, recalls his son Inspector General Gurdip Singh Uban (retd), who led SFF troops during the Kargil War.