Tuesday, March 28 2006 10:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bathinda: Hailing the spirits of fighters, Air Marshal A K Singh of Western Command yesterday (Mar 27, 2006) said almost all the world records stand in the name of Indian defence forces.

"Be it for flying highest or the capacity to target maximum and multiple towers at one time, Indian soldiers are the best," Singh, who had come to Bhisiana Air Force Station here for inspection and inauguration of a new hanger for the Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV's), said.

"Our defence forces are well-equipped and all set to face their challenges," Singh said.

Declining any shortage of staff in the Indian Air Force, Singh said, "We have some cockpit vacancies that too owing to the time required for training the fighters".

Such training, according to him, is a bit lengthy process since India cannot afford to lose a target as each missile costs nearly Rs 1.5 crores. "Keeping this in mind, sophisticated and latest technique-based fighter planes are used by the Air force," Singh added.

Regarding the induction of technically advanced aircraft in the Indian Air Force, he said the forces already have modern fighter planes which are not prone to failures, including MIG 29, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar.

Setting all speculations of MIG 23 jets being grounded, at rest, Singh clarified that most of the planes which have lived their lives were already grounded while rest are working well.