Coimbatore: On Monday, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, said that the IAF hit all the desired targets on February 26, when it struck the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror launchpads in Pakistan's Balakot. Addressing a press conference — his first after the ongoing operations that began with the February 26 strike — the Air Chief said that counting the number of casualties is not the job of the IAF, but as far as hitting the targets is concerned 'we hit the targets'.
Dhanoa said on being asked to comment on the air strikes against JeM camps in Pakistan "IAF is not in a postilion to clarify the number of casualties. The government will clarify that. We don't count human casualties, we count what targets we have hit or not,". He Further said that replying to questions on the use of MiG-21 Bison aircraft in the February 27 operations carried out in response to Pakistan's offensive on India's military bases, Dhanoa said that MiG-21 Bison is a capable aircraft." "One is a planned operation in which you plan and carry out. But when an adversary does a strike on you, every available aircraft goes in, irrespective of which aircraft it is. All aircraft are capable of fighting the enemy,".
Dhanoa also said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's return to flying duties depends upon his medical tests. Dhanoa said "That's why post-ejection, he has undergone a medical check. Whatever treatment required, will be given. Once we get his medical fitness, he will get into the fighter cockpit,". Dhanoa further added "We have signed for 36 Rafales, 40 Tejas and one and a half squadron of Sukhois. We have issued RFP (Request for Proposal) for 83 LCAs and then when Mach- I aircraft are delivered, we will go for six squadrosns of Mach II. Then we will go to AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft),".
Commenting on the depleting number of fighter squadrons in the IAF, Dhanoa said that Rafale should come into IAF's inventory in September.
