Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria to be new IAF Chief of Air Staff: MoD

The government has appointed Air Vice Chief Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria as the next Chief of the Air Staff, Principal Spokesperson at the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday. He will take over the position of present COAS Birender Singh Dhanoa. As per reports, current Chief ACM BS Dhanoa is going to retire on September 30.

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Who is Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria?

Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria was appointed as the Vice Chief of Indian Air Force on May 1 after superannuation of Air Marshal Anil Khosla. He had headed the IAF's Bengaluru-based Training Command in August 2018 and in his earlier avatar as the Deputy Chief, he was the chairman of the Indian negotiating team for the 36 Rafale combat aircraft deal with France. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on 15 June 1980 with the Sword of Honour. 

From January 2016 to February 28, 2017, he had held several important positions such as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Senior Air Staff Officer at the Central Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. RKS Bhadauria also served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command from March 1, 2017. He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2013), the Vayu Sena Medal (January 2002) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2018) among other awards during the colourful 36 years of his career.

Notably, Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria has flown the Rafale aircraft during the Exercise Garuda 2019.

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Chief ACM BS Dhanoa to retire

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC took over as the Chief of the Air Staff on January 1, 2017. He was commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot. Among many feathers in his hat, present chief ACM BS Dhanoa led the IAF punch during the ‘Limited War’ against Pakistan as the Commanding Officer of a front line ground attack fighter squadron.

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(With PTI inputs)