Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria appointed as next Air Force Chief
19 Sep 2019
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Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria, who is the current Vice-Chief of Air Staff. will take over as Chief of Air Staff (CAS) after Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa retires on 30 September. Bhadauria, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy Khadakwasla, was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of Training Command, prior to this. He has a flying experience of over 4, 250 hours.
Air Vice Chief Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff, principal spokesperson of the defence ministry announced. Bhadauria took over as Vice Chief of Air Staff on 1 May.
Bhadauria was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on 15 June 1980. According to his profile on the official website of the Indian Air Force, Bhadauria has a flying experience of over 4,250 hours and has flown 26 types of fighter jets and transport aircraft.
He has a 'unique distinction of being an Experimental Test Pilot, a Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and a Pilot Attack Instructor'. During his career, he has held several - command and staff - appointments such as Command of a Jaguar Squadron and a premier Air Force Station, Commanding Officer of Flight Test Squadron at Aircraft & System Testing Establishment, Chief Test Pilot and Project Director of National Flight Test Centre on Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project.
He has also served as Air Attache, at Indian embassy, Moscow, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) and been the commandant of the NDA. Prior to assuming his role as Vice Chief of Air Staff, Bhadauria was the Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C) of Training Command and prior to that, of Southern Air Command. Hailing originally from Korth near Agra, RKS Bhadauria is married to Asha Bhadauria and they have a daughter and a son.
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