Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary takes over as new IAF chief

FIGHTER pilot Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on Thursday (30) took over as India’s chief of air staff from Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. Chaudhari, who was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1982, is the 27th chief of air staff.

Bhadauria, who superannuated after 42 years of service, was the architect of two mega fighter plane deals, including 36 Rafale and 83 Mark1A indigenous Tejas jets.

Chaudhari, who was the vice chief of air staff before taking over the top post, has served in various key capacities at both field formations and air headquarters and would take charge when the country is still in a standoff position at the borders with China and the South Asian region is witnessing tension over the development in Afghanistan.

Chaudhari has a flying experience of more than 3,800 hours on various fighter and trainer aircraft, including missions flown during Operation Meghdoot, the Indian Air Force’s support to capture the Siachen glacier in the 1980s, and Operation Safed Sagar (the air force’s support provided during the Kargil conflict in 1999).

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Chaudhari has the experience of commanding a frontline fighter squadron and a fighter base during his career. He has also held various other positions, including the deputy commandant, Air Force Academy; assistant chief of air staff operations (air defence) and assistant chief of air staff (personnel officers).

Chaudhari would also be responsible for the operationalisation of modern air defence systems like the S-400 from Russia which are set to be inducted soon. The new chief of air staff would also be responsible for the modernisation of the fighter aircraft fleet as more indigenous and foreign fighter planes will be inducted in the force in the near future.

Chaudhary, whose son is a Rafale fighter pilot, also ensured a smooth induction of the French jets into the Indian Air Force as the Amabala airbase in the northern Indian state of Haryana was under him as the western air commander.