Armed forces must be ready to fight hybrid threats: IAF chief RKS Bhadauria

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Saturday said that today’s battle-space is “highly complex and multi-dimensional” with unpredictable security scenarios, and therefore the soldiers need to be prepared for hybrid threats emanating from multiple fronts.

He also hailed the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Department of Military Affairs (DMA) because the beginning of the “most historic phase of upper defence reforms” within the country.

Bhadauria was addressing the cadets of the National Defence Academy (NDA) here after reviewing the passing out parade of its 139th course.

“The NDA isn’t just the cradle of leadership, but a real cradle of jointmanship. The vast experience of joint training at the NDA must be carried forward to the respective academies,” he said.

“Today’s battle-space is very complex and multi- dimensional with unpredictable security scenarios and high operational tempo. within the battle-space, operational response and demand are going to be an integrated synergistic approach to all or any operations,” he added.

“Therefore, bonds of friendship that you simply have forged here, together with your course-mates, together with your squadron-mates, got to continue throughout your life, as you enter your service career and will translate always into better synergy at every stage of your career,” Bhadauria advised the cadets.

“The appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and formation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) marks the start of the foremost historic phase of upper defence reforms in our country,” he said.

“As budding military professionals, you ought to begin to know that geopolitical churnings round the world have an immediate pertaining to the safety environment in our neighbourhood,” the IAF chief said.

“Our soldiers need to be prepared for hybrid threats emanating from multiple fronts. This mandates very high levels of data , dedication, commitment and sacrifice and leadership in the least levels in the least times. this is often what each service and therefore the nation would expect from you,” he added.

The convocation ceremony of 139th NDA course was held the academy on Friday. a complete of 217 cadets- 49 from science stream, 113 from computing stream and 55 from Arts stream- were conferred the degree of Nehru University (JNU), an NDA official said.