New Delhi. 30 September 2024. In a significant leadership transition, Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM, will assume command as the new Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF) today, September 30, 2024. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, who will retire on the after a distinguished career in service of the nation.
Born on October 27, 1964, Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh’s career in the Indian Air Force spans nearly four decades of exemplary service. A highly accomplished officer, he was commissioned into the fighter pilot stream of the IAF in December 1984 and has since risen through the ranks, making his mark in several critical operational, instructional, and strategic roles.
An alumnus of prestigious military institutions such as the National Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College, Air Marshal Singh brings with him a wealth of knowledge and operational expertise. His career is a testament to his versatile leadership in multiple domains, including combat, testing, and administration.
A qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot, Air Marshal Singh has logged more than 5,000 flying hours on a variety of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. His flight prowess and technical expertise were on full display when he led the MiG-29 Upgrade Project Management Team in Moscow, Russia. His contributions were instrumental in advancing India’s air combat capabilities, particularly in the modernization of fighter jets.
As a Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre, Air Marshal Singh was a key figure in the developmental flight testing of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, a project central to India’s defense self-reliance.
Over the course of his distinguished career, he has commanded a frontline fighter squadron and a key air base. He also held pivotal staff positions, including Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command, where his leadership was critical to safeguarding India’s aerial sovereignty. Before assuming his current role as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, one of the IAF’s most strategic commands.
In addition to his operational and leadership responsibilities, Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has also represented the IAF in international arenas, building critical partnerships with foreign air forces and furthering India’s defense diplomacy.
As he prepares to take over as Chief of the Air Staff, the IAF will be led by a leader who is not only a seasoned fighter pilot but also an astute strategist and an advocate of indigenous defense development. His appointment comes at a time when the Indian Air Force is undergoing significant modernization, including the induction of new fighter jets, advanced missile systems, and bolstering its cyber and space warfare capabilities.
Air Marshal Singh’s vast experience and leadership acumen are expected to steer the force into a future of greater capability, technology integration, and operational readiness. As he takes command of one of the world’s most formidable air forces, the nation will look to him to continue the legacy of excellence and further bolster India’s air power and strategic influence.
This appointment marks a new chapter for the IAF as it continues to evolve and adapt to modern warfare’s changing dynamics. Under Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh’s command, the Indian Air Force is poised for new heights in defense preparedness and national security.
ADU is all set to say a fond goodbye to the ever smiling ACM VR Chaudhary and welcome his perfect successor
