INDIA: Air Marshal VR Chaudhari has been named the New Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF) by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday. The current Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will retire from service on September 30.
Former Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Chaudhari will now take his position. The delayed announcement of the new IAF chief was leading to speculations in the Air Headquarters in the national capital.
Air Marshal VR Chaudhari, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 28, 1982. He has held various command, staff, and instructional appointments at various levels including the present one as Vice Chief of Air Staff, a statement from the ministry said.
Chaudhari has a flying experience of more than 3,800 hours on a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircraft including missions flown during Operation Meghdoot and Operation Safed Sagar.
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Operation Meghdoot was the code name for the Indian Armed Forces’ operation to seize control of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir in 1984. Operation Safed Sagar was for IAF’s role in the 1999 Kargil conflict. Chaudhari is decorated with PVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal), AVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal), and (Vayu Medal) VM.
