Sukhoi handed over, takes off on first flight

After it was handed over to the force today, an inaugural flight was held. Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy said, ‘‘This is a beautiful machine. We are the only Air Force in the world with fully operational aircraft using vector thrust technology and can deploy them at a moment’s notice.’’ The flight was piloted by Russian test pilot P.M. Sergei and Wg Cdr T.R. Ajit Kumar.

HAL chairman N.R. Mohanty, who retires on Tuesday, said the project reports on the Light Combat Helicopter and indigenous Advanced Jet Trainer would be forwarded to the government for financial sanction.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee who was accompanied by Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, Defence secretary Ajai Vikram Singh and other senior South Block officials, said, ‘‘This was a clear demonstration of our skill and competence. This speaks of nothing but our self-reliance and defence preparedness.”

In a speech on terrorism, Mukherjee said, ‘‘We do not have territorial ambitions. But we will also never allow anyone else to annexe even a small part of our land. Our security policy and preparedness will ensure that.”

Senior Russian Defence officials were also present. The Minister said when his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov arrives for talks on Tuesday, India will make sure that there is an uninterrupted supply of equipment already ordered. ‘‘We will also see if they have any fresh proposals,” he said. Mukherjee, however, expressed a word of caution on the US offer of arms to India: ‘‘US laws are very restrictive. In the past, there have been times when sanctions have been imposed.”