New Delhi: Air Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, VSM, ADC has been designated as the new chief of staff of the Indian Air Force and will assume command on 31 May when current chief , Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major,  retires. Air Marshal Naik is currently vice-chief of air staff.

In accordance with custom the government has announced its decision two months in advance of the post falling vacant.

Unlike Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, who holds the unique distinction of being the first helicopter pilot to head the air force, Air Marshal Naik is a fighter pilot commissioned in 1969. He has logged 3085 flying hours in his long and distinguished career and has also seen action during the 1971 conflict with Pakistan.

In a distinguished career of 38 years with the air force, he has flown all MiG-21 variants and MiG-23-BNs.

He is also a qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader.

Air Marshal Naik held several key positions before his appointment as vice chief including command of the Allahabad-based Central Air Command. He has been a fellow of the National Defence College in New Delhi and College of Defence Management in Secundrabad.

He has also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

Air Marshal Naik assumes charge in a time of transition with a lot of old equipment and aircraft being phased out and an overhaul of doctrine is underway. These include phasing the force into net-centric modes of operations.

As chief he will also be faced with the dilemma of halting further depletion of force levels, with the strength of the Indian Air Force reduced to 30 squadrons against a sanctioned 38.

He would also be interested in getting the Aerospace Command off the ground and into action.

The fate of the contract for the supply of 126 multi-role combat aircraft to the air force is likely to be settled during his tenure. At least six foreign suppliers are in contention for the contract with their products.

These include the MiG RAC, Dassault, Eurofighter, SAAB Gripen, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.