Air Marshal VR Chaudhari Set to Be Next Chief of Air Staff

Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, who is retiring at the end of September, has been replaced as Chief of Air Staff by Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. The commander, who is currently serving as Vice Chief of Air Staff, was commissioned into the fighter stream and has commanded a MiG 29 squadron as well as having expertise with a variety of aircraft, including the SU 30MKI.

In recent years, the senior officer has held a number of significant positions, including Western Air Command commander and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence).

Officials claimed the Air Officer has over 3800 hours of flying experience on a variety of fighter and training aircraft, including operations conducted during Op-Meghdoot and Op-Safed Sagar.

He was also the Chief Operations Officer of the Srinagar Air Force Station and an Air Advisor to the Chief of Air Staff in the past. Officials added, "The Air Officer has been an Air Force Examiner on various types of fighter and training aircraft."

In the next months, Air Marshal Chaudhari will have to negotiate his way through the integrated theatre command plan that is presently in the works, where disagreements have arisen over the new organization that is being proposed.