Vivek Ram Chaudhari the next Chief of the Air Staff

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Last Updated22/09/2021

The Union government appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari the next Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
The current chief, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, is retiring on September 30.
As an Air Vice Marshal, he has been Deputy Commandant, Air Force Academy; and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence).

The Union government appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari the next Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
The current chief, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, is retiring on September 30.
As an Air Vice Marshal, he has been Deputy Commandant, Air Force Academy; and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence).

He was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Air Force on December 29, 1982.
He has flying experience of more than 3,800 hours on a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircraft, including missions flown during Operation Meghdoot, the Air Force’s support to capture Siachen glacier in 1980s, and Operation Safed Sagar (the support provided by the IAF during the Kargil conflict in 1999).
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Chaudhari has commanded 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).
Earlier, he had served as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ and Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command. Prior to his taking over as the vice chief in July, Chaudhari served as the commander-in-chief of the Western Air Command – the largest air command of the IAF responsible for parts of both the borders with Pakistan and China.
The Western Air Command has the responsibility of protecting Ladakh as well, where India and China have been involved in an over 16-month-long standoff since May 2020.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayu Sena Medals.
Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria had taken over from BS Dhanoa in September 2019.
Incidentally, Bhadauria was set to retire that day, but his appointment as the chief had given him a two-year tenure.
Commissioned in the fighter stream of the Air Force in June 1980, Bhadauria had won the Sword of Honour as he had stood at the top in the overall order of merit.
With more than 4,250 hours of flying experience on 26 types of fighters and transport aircraft, Air Marshal Bhadauria has been a chief test pilot for the indigenously designed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
He headed the Contract Negotiating Committee for the Rafale jets deal and was later among the first pilots of the Indian Air Force to fly the Rafale jets.