IAF chief Arup Raha asks officers for better absorption of new equipment

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of the crash of a newly-acquired C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, IAF chief Arup Raha today asked the officers and personnel to work for "better absorption of modern equipment".

"He urged everyone to keep abreast with modern developments and technologies for smooth transition and better absorption of modern equipment," the IAF said in a release.

The IAF chief was addressing the inaugural function of the Commanders' Conference at the Eastern Command of the force in Shillong.

The IAF recently lost its most modern aircraft C-130J Super Hercules in a crash near Gwalior in which five personnel including four pilots were killed.

It has not yet been able to find the reason behind the crash even after receiving the data from the Black Box of the aircraft from the American original equipment manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

At the commanders' conference, the IAF chief brought out the vital role of the NE region and gave an insight into future infrastructure development plans under Easter Air Command.

Raha along with his wife had visited the Chhabua air base in Assam close to China border and had flown in the frontline Su-30MKI combat aircraft.