As a part of the Air Force Network (AFNET) Project, Digital Signatures issued by a license holder would provide the legal recognition to an electronic document under the IT Act 2000. With this, the IAF would be able to put in place a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which is a practical strategy for achieving information security in today’s highly networked environment.

An essential component for providing enhanced Information Assurance and Identity Management Capabilities, PKI would provide data integrity, user identification and authentication, user non-repudiation, data confidentiality, encryption and digital signature services for programs and applications on Air Force Network. It would also issue and manage software and hardware certificates on the state-of-the-art Internet Protocol/ Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) network of the IAF. With this system in place, the IAF becomes the first defence organization and the second Government body,[first being National Informatics Centre (NIC) to receive the coveted license.

Air Marshal KK Nowhar, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Sharma, ACAS (Signals and IT), senior Air Force officials and luminaries from academia, private sector and public sector were among those who were present at the occasion.