New Delhi: Air Marshal VR Chaudhari has been appointed as the new Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. He will take over on September 30 after the retirement of outgoing Air Chief RKS Bhadauria. Choudhary, who joined the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1982, has a flying experience of 3800 hours. This, during Operation Meghdoot, which was completed by the Air Force to capture the Siachen Glacier in the 1980s. Along with this, missions like Operation Safed Sagar (assistance provided by the Indian Air Force during the Kargil conflict in 1999) have been completed.
An alumnus of the National Defense Academy and Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, Chowdhary has commanded a frontline fighter squadron and a fighter base during his career. Apart from this, he has also served in many other positions including Deputy Commandant of Air Force Academy, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officer).
Chaudhary has held this position
Prior to this, Choudhary has served as Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters and Senior Air Staff Officer in Eastern Air Command. Before taking over as the deputy chief in July, Choudhary served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Air Command. It is the largest air command of the Indian Air Force responsible for parts of both borders with Pakistan and China. The Western Air Command also has responsibility for the security of Ladakh, where tensions between India and China have been going on since May 2020.
Choudhary has over 3,800 hours of flying experience including operational flying of MiG-21, MiG-23MF, MiG-29, and Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft. Chaudhary has been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and Vayu Sena Medal.
Let us tell you that RKS Bhadauria had taken charge in September 2019 after BS Dhanoa retired. Incidentally, Bhadauria was due to retire on that day, but after his appointment as chief, his tenure got extended by two years. Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force in June 1980, Bhadauria won the Sword of Honor.
