Over 4250 hours of flying, 26 types of aircraft- Meet India’s new Air Force chief, Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria

The eventful tenure of current Indian Air Force Chief, BS Dhanoa, which witnessed the daring Balakot airstrikes deep into Pakistani territory is going to end on September 30. The government has now announced Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria as the next IAF Chief. At present, Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria is the Vice Chief of the Air Staff. This is only second time in the history of the Air Force that the government appointed Air Chief Marshal by giving an extension to an Air Force Deputy chief.

In fact, Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, like Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, was to retire on September 30. For the first time, after 28 years in the history of the Air Force, the Deputy Chief is being made Chief on the day of retirement. In the year 1991, Air Marshal NC Suri also became the Chief under similar circumstances. Bhadauria will remain the Air Force chief for two years, till the age of 62.

The Indian Air Force tweeted from its official handle, “Air Mshl RKS Bhadauria PVSM AVSM VM ADC will take over as 26th Chief of the Air Staff. He will be taking over the command from the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee & Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Mshl BS Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC, who is due to retire end of the month.” In another tweet, the Indian Air Force also gave a brief overview of Air Marshal Bhadauria’s career achievements. The IAF tweeted, “Air Mshl Bhadauria was commissioned in fighter stream of IAF on 15 Jun 1980 & was recipient of ‘Sword of Honour’. He has over 4250 hrs of flying on 26 types of fighters & transport aircraft. He has been the AOC-in-C for two commands & has been overseeing IAF Operations as VCAS.”

Apart from this, he has the unique distinction of being an Experimental Test Pilot, a category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and a Pilot Attack Instructor. During his career, spanning almost forty years, he also commanded a Jaguar Squadron and a premier Air Force Station. He is also credited with devising a method for carrying bombing from the Jaguar aircraft with the Global Positioning System (GPS), an innovation which proved its mettle during the Operation Safed Sagar in 1999.

It is also important to mention here that Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria had also played a key role in negotiating the Rafale deal. In fact, he headed the Cost Negotiation Committee (CNC) for the Rafale deal. He had taken over as the Air Vice-Chief of the Indian Air Force only a few months ago. He is one of the few Indian Air Force pilots to have flown a Rafale. The Air Marshal had flown the Rafale aircraft during the Exercise Garuda between the Air Forces of India and France.

Interestingly, Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria was due to retire on September 30, the same day on which the Air Chief BS Dhanoa is going to retire from the IAF. According to an Air Force official, in such a case the incumbent Chief may demit office in the forenoon, so that the successor can assume charge in the noon. A similar incident had happened way back in July 1991 when former Air Force Chief NC Suri took over from then Chief of Air Staff, SK Mehta. At that time, the then Air Force Chief Mehra had demitted office in the forenoon and his successor took charge in the noon.

It has been for the first time in around 28 years when the peculiar situation of an Air Force Chief retiring on the same date on which his successor was to retire has arisen. Air Marshal Bhadauria’s illustrious career as highlighted above really entitles him for a term as the Air Force Chief. With his vast experience and impressive achievements, it can be said that the Indian Air Force is in safe hands.