Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), visited the Headquarters Southern Air Command (SAC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on March 12, 2025, to attend the Commanders’ Conference. During his address, he highlighted the urgent need for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to embrace technological adaptability and capability enhancement while emphasizing the strategic significance of effectively utilizing human resources to bolster the IAF’s position as a modern and agile aerospace power.
In an era marked by the rapid evolution of warfare, Air Chief Marshal Singh stressed the importance of the IAF staying ahead of developments in emerging domains such as space, cyber, and electronic warfare. These areas are becoming increasingly critical in contemporary conflicts, and he underscored that technological supremacy in these fields will be essential for securing India’s national interests and achieving air dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
His statements reflect the IAF’s broader vision for modernization, which focuses on developing next-generation air capabilities, enhancing electronic warfare resilience, and implementing network-centric operations to improve combat readiness in future multi-domain battlefields.
The Southern Air Command, established on July 19, 1984, is vital for safeguarding India’s southern airspace and maritime interests. Originally headquartered at Belhaven Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, it moved to a dedicated facility in Akkulam on August 8, 1996. The command has operational oversight over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea, playing a crucial role in air-sea rescue missions, maritime surveillance, and rapid response operations across India’s extensive oceanic frontiers. Its strategic location enhances its significance in defending the Indian Ocean Region, which is increasingly becoming a focus of geopolitical interest.
During the conference, the Air Chief reiterated the necessity of capability enhancement, optimization of human resources, and seamless integration of advanced technologies to increase the operational effectiveness of the IAF. He called on commanders to adopt innovative approaches to ensure that the Air Force remains future-ready and aligns with India’s national security objectives.
In light of the growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, the Southern Air Command is evolving into a vital force multiplier for the IAF. It enhances India’s maritime airpower, strategic surveillance, and rapid deployment capabilities. The Commanders’ Conference served as a key platform to reaffirm the IAF’s commitment to technological excellence, strategic agility, and aerospace superiority in the years to come.
