News Analysis India

Tag: Vivek Ram Chaudhari

  • Chinese Air Force’s presence across LAC won’t affect our operations: IAF chief Chaudhari

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on Tuesday said that the  presence of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) along the LAC is not going to have any effect on the IAF’s operations.

    Addressing the media during his first press conference ahead of the 89th Air Force Day, ACM Chaudhari said, “Chinese PLAAF is still present along the LAC. This is not going to affect our air operations. For the air force, it will not make much difference.”

    It was a few days back that the Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane had said that the heavy presence of Chinese soldiers along the LAC is a matter of concern. The Air Chief also said that the PLAAF was developing airstrips but “they have a huge penalty of high altitude.”

    The weight carrying capacity of the PLAAF aircraft comes down heavily due to a rarefied atmosphere at the high altitude of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

    ALSO READ: Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari takes charge as new Chief of Indian Air Force

    “We are fully committed to integration and jointness. The process and structure have to cater for future warfare,” said the Air Chief on the issue of the theatre command. However, he also maintained that the doctrine of each service needs to be kept in mind.

    India is reorganizing and integrating its armed forces into a theatre command where the three services will be integrated under one commander and every theatre assigned a fixed area for operational duty. At present, the three services of the Army, Navy and Air Force have their own commands and approach operations discretely.

    On the induction of the S-400 air defence system, he said, “Hopefully, the first squadron should be inducted within this year.”

    “There are four MiG 21 squadrons. We plan to retire them all in the next three to four years,” the IAF chief said.

    The Air Chief also denied reports of the air force conducting a two-finger test on a woman officer in Coimbatore who had accused a fellow IAF officer of rape. “Two finger test in the Coimbatore rape case was not done. It was misreported.” said the Air Chief, adding that a detailed inquiry will be conducted.

  • Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari takes charge as new Chief of Indian Air Force

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari took over as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) on Thursday with the ceremonial Guard of Honour presented to him at Air Force Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan).

    An alumnus of NDA, the CAS was commissioned in December ’82 in the fighter stream of the IAF. He has flown more than 3,800 hours on multiple fighter and trainer aircraft.

    During his career spanning almost four decades, the CAS has tenanted many significant command and staff appointments. He has commanded a MiG-29 Squadron, two Air Force Stations and Western Air Command. His staff appointments include 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.

    A Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor, he has served as an instructor at Flying Training Establishments and has also been an Air Force Examiner. He was a pioneer member of the Suryakiran Aerobatic Display Team. ACM Chaudhari since July, he had been serving as IAF vice-chief and before it he was heading the critical Western Air Command for more than a year as its Air Officer Commanding in Chief.

    The Western Air Command is entrusted with the responsibility of both the Western Borders and the Northern Borders of Eastern Ladakh which has the on-going standoff between India and China.

    CAS is a recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vayu Sena Medal (VM) and is honorary ADC to the President of India.

    Addressing the Air force personnel, CAS Vivek Ram Chaudhari said, “Enhancement of operational capability through integration of newly inducted platforms, weapons and equipment with existing assets and dovetailing the same in concepts of operations would remain a priority area.”

  • Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to be new Chief of Indian Air Force

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari will take charge as the chief of the Indian Air Force after the incumbent, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, retires on September 30, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

    Air Marshal Chaudhari is presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

    “The government has decided to appoint Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on September 30,” the ministry said in a brief statement.

    He has held command, staff and instructional appointments at various levels and took over as Vice Chief of Air Staff on July 1.

    Before becoming Vice Chief of the IAF, he was serving as commander-in-chief of the Western Air Command (WAC) that looks after the security of Indian air space in the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as various other parts of north India.

    An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 29, 1982.

    In a distinguished career spanning nearly 38 years, the officer has flown a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircraft in the inventory of IAF.

    He has a flying experience of more than 3,800 hours, including operational flying on MiG-21, MiG-23 MF, MiG 29 and Su-30 MKI fighter jets.

    He was the commanding officer of a frontline fighter squadron and has also commanded a frontline fighter base.

    Apart from various operational issues, Air Marshal Chaudhari will have to also address matters related to the ambitious theaterisation model of the armed forces.

    The theatre commands are being planned to integrate the capabilities of the three services and to ensure optimal utilisation of their resources.

    The theatre commands are being set up under a larger mandate of ensuring synergy among the three service chiefs to deal with future security challenges.

    Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat has been focusing on bringing convergence among the three services and restructuring military commands to effectively deal with future security challenges.

    There has been a growing perception that the Indian Air Force has some reservations about the theaterisation programme.

    Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari (Photo | PTI)

  • Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to be the next Indian Air Force Chief of Staff

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The government has confirmed the appointment of Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari as the next Indian Air Force Chief of Staff on Tuesday.

    Announcing the decision, the Ministry of Defence in its press release said, “Government has decided to appoint Air Marshal V R Chaudhari presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on 30th September 2021.”

    The Air Marshal was commissioned in the Fighter Stream of the IAF on 29 December 82. The Air Officer has a flying experience of more than 3800 hrs on a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircraft, including missions flown during Op-Meghdoot (Siachen) and Op-Safed Sagar (Kargil).

    He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

    During his illustrious career in the IAF, the Air Officer has commanded a frontline Fighter Sqn and a Fighter base. As an Air Vice Marshal, he has been Deputy Commandant, Air Force Academy, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers). He has also held the coveted appointments of Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command. Prior to assuming the appointment Vice Chief, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command.

    During his tenure as VCAS, he was instrumental in ensuring prompt and optimum operational deployment of assets in proportionate response to the developing situation in Eastern Ladakh. Under his guidance, IAF also effectively contributed towards various HADR and COVID-related tasks, both within India and abroad.