Air Marshall of Air Force 2022-23
AVM Harjinder Singh
Harjinder Singh joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) as Hawai Sepoy (Air Soldier), which is inferior to the military. He was drafted into the Royal Air Force on 03 Sep 1942. One of his many endeavors was the construction of an airplane at IAF Station Kanpur in early 1958. He was an engineering genius who had a vision before his time. He rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshal and became the first Chief of the Maintenance Order in Kanpur. He died suddenly on 6 Sep 1971.
Air Chief Marshal PC Lal
Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal was born in December 1916 in Allahabad, into a family of lawyers. He had an initial interest in aviation, and became a young Indian to obtain an Amateur Pilot Driver’s License at the age of 17, in January 1934. They were invited to participate. There he began his glorious journey in the Indian Air Force. He worked for the IAF from 1939 until his retirement in 1973. During his excellent career, he commissioned No. 7 Sqn (Burma campaign), was AOC-in-C of HQ Western Air Command, Managing Director and Chairman of HAL, VCAS and Head of Air Force during the Indo War -Pakistan of 1971. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. After retiring from the IAF, he served as Co-Chair of Indian Airlines and Air India until 1980. Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal died in 1982.
Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra
Air Chief Om Prakash Mehra was born on 19 Jan 1919 in Lahore. He graduated from Central Model School in 1933 and joined Government College University, Lahore. Shortly after the Tiger Moths flight to the North India Flying Club, Walton, he joined the RIAF as a Pilot Officer on 30 Nov 1940. While working for the IAF, he commissioned a respected 1 Sqn and served as Commander, Flying Elementary training. School in Ambala. In 1963 he took over as the AOC-in-C Maintenance Command, where he served during the 1965 war. He served as Deputy Chief of Air Staff before taking over as Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. On 15 January 1973 he took over as Air Force Chief of Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal PC Lal. He became the recipient of Padma Vibhushan and continued to serve as Governor of Maharashtra (1980) and later, as Governor of Rajasthan (1982)
Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh
Air Marshal Dilbagh Singh was born March 10, 1926 in Gurdaspur district, Punjab. He was offered a job at RIAF as a pilot in 1944. His flying career took off from Spitfire until he launched the first MiG-21 Sqn in India. He previously performed the first official “Supersonic Bang” in India in New Delhi while Mystere IV-A was on display for public display. He ordered 2 Sqn, flying Spitfire XVIII and 1 Sqn, flying Mystere IV-A and Air Force Base Lohegaon. He held the appointment of AOC-in-C Western Air Command before taking over as Air Force chief of staff from 1981 to 1984. After retiring, he continued to serve as India’s Ambassador to Brazil from 1985 to 1987. They are dead. February 2001.
Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif
Air Marshal Chief Idris Hassan Latif was born on June 9, 1923 in Hyderabad. He attended the famous Nizam College, Hyderabad. He was drafted into the RIAF in 1942 and participated in the Burmese Campaign on the Arakan Front during World War II. He has served as Air Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC and has held the dual responsibility of Air Attaché at the Indian High Commissioner’s office in Canada. During his tenure with the IAF, he held key positions for ACAS (Plans), AOA, AOC-in-C Central Air Command and Maintenance Command, VCAS and was appointed as Air Force Chief of Staff in 1978. After retiring from the IAF, he served as Governor of Maharashtra and India’s ambassador to France. He died on June 27, 2008.
Air Chief Marshal Katre
Air Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre was born on 26 Jan 1927 in Madras. He was appointed on 9 April 1945 and began his distinguished career in the IAF as a Pilot Officer in 1 Sqn. Later, he ordered 17 Sqn and 7 Sqn. He has served as Commander, Air Force Academy, in Dundigal, where he expanded areas to provide training for Ground Duty branches and redirected aviation operations to gain advanced training in jet aircraft. He served as AOC-in-C Eastern Air Command and after that, AOC-in-C Western Air Command. He took over the position of Chief of Air Staff on 04 Sep 1984. He passed away suddenly on 01 Jul 85 while on duty.
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma
Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma was born on 13 Jan 1949 in Patiala Punjab, and studied at St. George’s Grammar School, Abid Road Hyderabad. He was drafted into the Indian Air Force as a Pilot Officer in 1970. Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma, then Squadron Leader, launched a landmark campaign in 1984 as part of a joint space program between the Indian Space Research Organization and the Soviet space program Intercosmos. . He spent eight days in space at the space station Salyut 7. Launched with two Soviet Cosmonauts on the Soyuz T-11 on 03 April 1984 was 35-year-old Rakesh Sharma. He was given the title ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ when he returned from space. The Indian government has given him its largest peacekeeping prize, the Ashoka Chakra.
AIR CHIEF MARSHAL
Air Force Marshal VR Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC was given the task of fighting the Indian Air Force on 29 Dec 1982. He is a former student of the National Defense Academy, Flying Instructors’ School and Defense Services Staff College, Wellington. The boss has a rich and varied flying experience, having flown more than 3800 hours.
During his career, he held numerous command appointments with personnel and served as an Air Force inspector for combat and training aircraft. She is a Qualified ‘A’ Flight Trainer and Instrument Measurement Trainer and Inspector. The Lord differs in the unique way of being a trainer at Defense Services Staff College, Wellington and Defense Services Command and Staff College, Zambia.
The Air Chief Marshal has directed a major military force and two key combat bases. Some of his notable roles include Assistant Chief of Staff (Air Defense), Assistant Chief of Staff (Staff Officers) and Deputy Chief of Staff, where he leads several IAF procurement cases. He later became the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command and the Deputy Chief of Air Staff before taking over as Chief of Air Staff on 30 September 21st.
He is married to Mrs. Neeta Chaudhari and they are blessed with two sons.
Distinguished Alumnus Awards 2020
Air Marshal Raj Karan Singh Shera (MT/EE/1990)
Air Marshal RKS Shera is a retired air force commander in command of the Chief Maintenance Command, Indian Air Force. He has previously served as the Air Force Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and also served as Chief Operating Officer (SMSO) in the HQ Maintenance Command. Sqn Ldr Shera is one of the few engineers trained in the former USSR on a MiG-29 aircraft.
The Air Marshal RKS Shera has been sent to combat Sqn, the first team to be converted to the MiG-29. With his professional approach, he successfully handled the complex task of setting up the first MiG-29 Squadron DSS. Evidence of his efforts, especially with regard to planning and organization, was evident in the fact that within a short time the team was operating in an orderly fashion. He has also been instrumental in the pioneer work of creating first-line service schedules and ORP procedures. The Air Force Officer is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defense College (NDC). He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication and the Aeronautical Society of India, in addition to being a member of the Computer Society of India. IITK has awarded Air Marshal Raj Karan Singh Shera Outstanding Student of the Year Award, in 2020.
Awards and Honors
Recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal, 2021.
She was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) on January 26, 2020 for her role in the ministry.
Awarded the MRO Lifetime Achievement Award Award by STAT Media on 06 Feb, 2020.
Support for the successful implementation of the Pan India Exercise ‘Gagan Shakti -2018’ and Op Balakot.
He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva (AVSM) Award on 26 January, 2014 for his outstanding service.
Awarded by the President of India, the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) on January 26, 1993 for a unique contribution to how to save foreign exchange by upgrading the OEM standard of a Russian Fighter aircraft using internal resources and expertise.
It is useful for setting up MRO’s traditional development area for the MiG-29 Development and SU-30MKI Fighter Aircraft (Idea to Towards Successful Projects).
Construction of Nodal Technology Centers at IAF Basic Repair Depots.
Fellow member of the Institute of Engineers (India).
A fellow member of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication.
Fellow member of the Aeronautical Society of India.
Member of the Computer Society of India.
Air Marshal Sandeep Singh takes charge as vice-chief of IAF
Integrated Security personnel and Western Air Command have also received new officers, as the new Chief Hydrographer in the government.
Air Marshal Sandeep Singh took over as Deputy Chief of Staff (VCAS) on Friday. In other positions, the Integrated Defense Staff and Western Air Command also appointed new officers as the new Chief Hydrographer in the government.
“A former National Defense Academy student, Air Marshal Singh, was offered a job at the IAF flying branch in December 1983 as a pilot. He is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor, ”said the IAF statement. He has more than 4,400 hours of flight experience in the operation and testing of aircraft for various types of fighter jets.
Air Marshal B.R. Krishna has taken over the post of Chief of Staff of the Security Forces of the Chair, Committee of Personnel Officers (CISC). He was commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1983 and is a Qualified Flight Director and test pilot. He has flown a variety of fighter jets, aircraft, and helicopters and has more than 5,000 hours of flight experience, including operation, training and pilot testing, the Armed Forces said.
Air Marshal Amit Dev has taken over as Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C) of Western Air Command.
He was deployed to the IAF flying branch in December 1982 as a fighter pilot and had 2,500 hours of flying experience on various combat aircraft, the statement said.
Deputy Admiral Adhir Arora has taken over as Chief Hydrographer in the Government of India in Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar, who received additional funding for work on September 30.
Deputy Admiral Arora was deported to the Navy’s top branch in 1985 and, as a Hydrographer specialist, conducted hydrographic surveys throughout India and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Navy said in a statement.
Air Marshal (Retd) M. Matheswaran
Former Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff
Air Marshal M Matheswaran was the Deputy Chief of Integrated Security Services (IDS) at Head Office, IDS until his retirement on 0n 31 Mar 2014. He was responsible for the development of Policy, Programs and the Three-Service Structure Development, which included budget analysis, Acquisition, asset management and technology. He was responsible for developing integrated and long-term integrated defense systems. Air Marshal M Matheswaran was commissioned in 1975.
He is an alumni of the National Defense Academy. His academic achievements include a Master’s, M Phil, Ph D in “Defense and Strategic Studies” (University of Madras) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management. He is a Senior Fellow of Executive Education Program on National and International Security, Harvard University- John.F.Kennedy School of Governance. He is an alumnus of Defense Services Staff College and National Defense College. He began his military career as a Fighter pilot and has commanded the Jaguar Strike Squadron. He is also the ‘Fighter Combat leader’ of IAF’s Top gun School called TACDE (Air Force Development Center) where he later served as Director of Operations and Deputy Commander. He is a Test Pilot pilot and has flown more than 3200 hours on 40 types of aircraft including transport aircraft and helicopters. He went on to instruct the prestigious Flight Test Center – ASTE (Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment).
He holds key Personnel and Personnel positions in a wide range of fields, thus gaining extensive expertise in a variety of fields. Some of these are – Chief Operating Officer of the main airbase, Jamnagar, during “Op Parakram”, Director of Psychology, Founding Member and Director of Ops at SFC (Strategic Forces Command), Directornof Air Staff Inspection ( DASI), Executive Director. For the Needs of the Air Force. He was the Chief Operating Officer of HQ Maritime Air Operations in 2008-09 and was in charge of air support operations to deal with the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on 26/11, Assistant Head of Air Operations (Space, Information and Electronic War). He was a Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), in charge of operations at Eastern Air Command before his last appointment. He is a well-known thinker and strategist in national and international strategic circles.
Reading reports on the LCA and Kaveri Engine programs has led the government to make important decisions on these projects. He submitted a major study on the Indian Aeronautical sector in March 2014. After retiring he took the position of “Strategy Advisor” to the Chairman, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. He is now a FICCI adviser to the Aerospace and Defense Industry Task Force. . He is a member of the Executive Council (Governing Body) of the IDSA (Center for Defense and Strategic Studies). He also visited the faculty of Hindustan Management Academy in Bangalore, India. Visited Honorable
colleagues at the ‘Center for Aerospace Studies’ in New Delhi, India.
