Eastern Air Command Completes Conference to Enhance Operational Readiness in India's Northeast
The Eastern Air Command (EAC) of the Indian Air Force has successfully wrapped up a two-day Station Master Warrant Officers' (MWOs) Conference in Shillong. This event gathered senior non-commissioned officers to deliberate on operational priorities along India’s northeastern border.
Taking place from July 17 to 18, the conference highlighted the essential role MWOs play in upholding unit cohesion, discipline, and operational effectiveness. Based in Shillong, the Eastern Air Command oversees a sensitive 6,300 km border region that includes areas adjacent to China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
During the closing session, Air Marshal Surat Singh, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of EAC, addressed the attendees. With a flying record exceeding 2,900 hours on the MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI, and accolades such as the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal, he highlighted the shifting responsibilities of MWOs in response to modern warfare, technological advancements, and humanitarian assignments.
The conference also underscored the strategic importance of EAC, which was formed following the 1962 Indo-China conflict. The command is responsible for both military operations and peacetime disaster relief in difficult terrains, especially in remote regions like Arunachal Pradesh where air transport is often the sole logistical option.
Operating from eight major airbases with a fleet of transport aircraft and helicopters, EAC remains crucial in airborne supply missions and regional defense readiness. While discussions from the conference are confidential, topics likely included disaster relief preparedness, high-altitude logistics, and rapid-response coordination with multiple agencies.
The conference concluded by reinforcing the leadership role of MWOs in promoting professionalism and readiness across Indian Air Force stations in the eastern region, thereby strengthening the command’s capability in a changing regional security landscape.
