Air Marshal V R Chaudhari to take over as chief of IAF's Western Air Command

Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari has been appointed as new commander-in-chief of Indian Air Force's Western Air Command (WAC) which looks after aerial defence of sensitive Ladakh sector as well as various or parts of rth India, officials said.

He is set to take charge of Delhi headquartered command on August 1, succeeding Air Marshal B Suresh, y said.

An alumni of National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned into fighter stream of IAF on Dec 29, 1982. He has flown a range of aircraft including MiG-21, MiG-23MF, MiG-29 and SU-30MKI.

His appointment as chief of WAC comes when it is enhancing operational deployment in eastern Ladakh in view of border row with China.

IAF has been carrying out night time combat air patrols over eastern Ladakh region in last few weeks.

It has already deployed almost all its frontline fighter jets like Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar and Mir 2000 aircraft in frontier bases in Ladakh as well as in several or places along Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Air Marshal Chaudhari was also involved in Rafale acquisition programme.

He is currently serving as senior air staff officer in Eastern Air Command.

Im Credits: ANI