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The Indian government announced the appointment of Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh as the next Chief of the Air Staff on Saturday, September 30, 2023. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, who is retiring on the same day. Air Marshal Singh currently serves as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Singh's appointment marks a significant transition for the Indian Air Force. He brings with him a wealth of experience spanning nearly four decades of service. Born on October 27, 1964, he was commissioned into the fighter pilot stream of the IAF in December 1984. His educational background includes the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College. He is a qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot with over 5,000 hours of flying experience on various fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Throughout his career, Air Marshal Singh has held various leadership positions in the IAF. He has commanded an operational fighter squadron and a frontline air base. His expertise in test piloting is evident in his role as the leader of the MiG-29 Upgrade Project Management Team in Moscow, Russia. He also served as the Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre, where he was responsible for flight testing the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas. He has also held crucial staff roles such as Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command. Before assuming the position of Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command.
Air Marshal Singh's recent involvement in the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti, which concluded earlier this month, highlights his commitment to international cooperation and strengthening India's defense capabilities. He has spoken publicly about the importance of Atmanirbharta, or self-reliance, in national security. While emphasizing the need for India to achieve self-sufficiency, he has also acknowledged the importance of pursuing this goal holistically, ensuring it doesn't compromise India's national security. This stance makes him the first top service officer to publicly address this complex issue.
Source: Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh appointed new IAF chief