"The southern peninsula of the country is strategically significant in many ways and Southern Air Command (SAC) of the Indian Air Force is well prepared to meet any contingency," Air Marshal Singh, who retired today, told reporters at the command headquarters here.
Over the years, the preparedness in the area had been strengthened in terms of air space, deployment of aircraft and equipment for surveillance to protect major installations of the area, including Kudamkulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, he said in reply to queries.
Expansion plans of the region included deployment of one Sukhoi Su-30 squadron at Sulur in Tamil Nadu by 2015, he said.
SAC also played a prominent role in marine surveillance although it was primarily the responsibility of Navy and Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Singh was succeeded by Air Marshal Rjesh Kumar Jolly.
Commissioned in the fighter stream of IAF in 1975, Air Marshal Jolly has flown various aircraft, including all variants of MiG-21 and has over 3,800 hours of flying to his credit.
A recipient of Vayusena and Vishit Seval medals, he has served in different capacities, including the Air Attache in Indian Embassy in Washington and Senior Air Staff Officer at Southwestern Air Command and Southern Air Command.
