At a ceremony held at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) on Thursday, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC took over as The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
In Dec 1982, the CAS was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF and has flown more than 3800 hours on multiple fighters and trainer aircraft.
The CAS has tenanted several significant command and staff appointments during his career spanning almost four decades. Along with the Western Air Command, a MiG-29 Squadron and two Air Force Stations were also commanded by him. Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Eastern Air Command, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers), Deputy Commandant of Air Force Academy and Air Assistant to Chief of the Air Staff, are all included in his staff appointments.
Along with serving as an instructor at Flying Training Establishments, he is a Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and has also been an Air Force Examiner. Being an alumnus, CAS has served as a Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and at DSCSC in Zambia. With regards to the Suryakiran Aerobatic Display Team, he was a pioneer member there. He was the Vice Chief of the Air Staff before assuming the present appointment.
CAS is not only a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) but is also felicitated with Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM) while he is also honorary ADC to the President of India.
CAS said that enhancing the operational capability via integration of freshly inducted platforms and weapons and equipment with existing assets and dovetailing the same in concepts of operations shall remain a priority area.
Speaking on the promotion of indigenization and innovation and strengthening cyber security, CAS also spoke on aspects of the acquisition of new technology and the rapid adaptation of training methods to meet future demands and sustained work to nurture human resources.