Hyderabad, 13 June (HS): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday called upon young officers of the Indian Air Force to prepare for the changing nature of warfare, stressing that future conflicts will increasingly be shaped by advanced technologies rather than conventional troop deployments.

Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) of the 217th Course at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Singh said modern warfare is being driven by technologies such as drones, satellites, sensors, robotics and radar systems.

“In today’s wars, soldiers and weapons are often not visible on the battlefield. Modern conflicts are driven by technology. You must remain alert, adaptable and ready to recalibrate your responses according to emerging technologies,” the Defence Minister said.

A total of 231 Flight Cadets, including 194 men and 37 women, graduated during the ceremony. Fourteen officers were also awarded Wings and Brevets.

Emphasising the importance of continuous learning, Singh urged the graduating cadets to adapt, adopt and innovate to maintain an operational advantage in future conflicts.

“Success in future warfare will require smart work backed by technology. Learning and training should continue throughout your careers,” he said.

The Defence Minister reviewed the parade marking the successful completion of pre-commissioning training of Flight Cadets from various branches of the Indian Air Force. He also conferred the President’s Commission on the graduating trainees and presented Wings and Brevets to Flight Cadets of the Indian Air Force, officers and trainees of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Congratulating the newly commissioned officers, Singh recalled the Indian Air Force’s contributions in major military operations, including the 1947-48 operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the 1971 war, and said the cadets were joining a force with a distinguished legacy of service.

The ceremony also marked the commissioning of the first batch of women cadets from the National Defence Academy, Pune, who underwent branch-specific training at the Air Force Academy after graduating from the NDA in May 2025.

The graduation parade featured aerial displays by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team, the Sarang helicopter display team and Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. Fly-pasts were also conducted by trainer aircraft including the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II, Hawk, Kiran and Chetak helicopters.

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh led the fly-past contingent during the event.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar