Vice Air Chief P K Barbora, who hit the headlines on women fighter pilots, has done it again. He attacked America and China on Thursday.

This time he is training his guns on the United States and growing Indo-US ties with the former US secretary of Defence William Cohen in attendance.

"I do not understand the distinction between old democracy and biggest democracy. The US has realised the importance of India after 9/11," said Vice Chief of Air Staff.

And China was his next target.

"Forget morality, right and wrong, the way China has been doing reverse engineering, can anyone say anything to China? We should also for own progress do the same," he added.

The Vice Chief's outburst against the US didn't go unanswered.

"Our relations weren't good with India, but now they have improved. Even India realised our importance after 26/11," said William Cohen.

The Vice Chief of Air staff may be saying what many Indians feel. But after the remarks coming from a serving senior officer, the Air Force will have to do a lot of explaining.