Air Marshal PV Shivanand, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command (SWAC), undertook a comprehensive operational review of air bases in the Saurashtra sector, reiterating the Indian Air Force’s emphasis on sustained combat readiness and round-the-clock operational vigilance along the western theatre.
The visit commenced with a ceremonial Guard of Honour accorded to the AOC-in-C on his arrival. During the review, Air Marshal Shivanand assessed the operational preparedness of the bases and reviewed key facilities supporting air defence and air operations.
A key highlight of the visit was his sortie on a maritime strike aircraft, underlining SWAC’s focus on maintaining a credible and responsive capability in the maritime domain. The sortie assumes significance in the context of the strategic importance of India’s western seaboard, where air power plays a critical role in maritime surveillance, deterrence and the ability to respond rapidly to emerging contingencies.
Air Marshal Shivanand inspected Air Defence and Air Operations facilities, taking stock of the systems, infrastructure and operational preparedness required to maintain a high state of readiness. The review also provided an assessment of the ability of personnel and operational elements to function effectively under demanding and dynamic conditions.
Interacting with station personnel, the AOC-in-C underscored the imperative of maintaining 24×7 operational vigilance, particularly in an evolving security environment where rapid detection, decision-making and response remain critical to air power effectiveness.
He stressed the importance of professionalism, training rigour and continuous operational preparedness, calling upon personnel to maintain the highest standards of competence and discipline. The Air Marshal also highlighted the importance of physical fitness and mental resilience, describing these as essential attributes for personnel operating in increasingly complex and technology-intensive combat environments.
The emphasis on training and resilience reflects the changing nature of modern warfare, where technological superiority must be complemented by highly trained, adaptable and psychologically resilient personnel capable of operating under sustained operational pressure.
The operational review of the Saurashtra sector comes against the backdrop of the growing importance of India’s western air and maritime approaches. For SWAC, maintaining a high degree of readiness across its air bases remains central to ensuring the effective employment of air power and a robust response capability across the spectrum of operations.
Air Marshal Shivanand’s visit thus served not only as an assessment of operational preparedness but also as a reaffirmation of SWAC’s commitment to maintaining a combat-ready, resilient and future-ready force, with air and maritime capabilities closely aligned to India’s evolving security requirements.
