Air Marshal SP Dharkar Takes Over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff
| Summary/Static | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in the news? | Air Marshal SP Dharkar, a distinguished fighter pilot with 3,600 hours of flying experience, assumed the role of Vice Chief of the Air Staff. |
| Predecessor | Succeeded Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who became the Chief of Air Staff. |
| Flight Experience | Over 3,600 hours of flying experience, including commanding a MiG-27 squadron. |
| Qualifications | - Qualified flying instructor, fighter strike leader, and instrument rating instructor. - Commissioned in the fighter stream in 1985. - Alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), National Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Services Staff College, and US Air War College. |
| Command Roles | - Commanded a frontline fighter unit. - Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command. - First Director General of the Defence Space Agency (DSA). - Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training). |
| Key Contributions | - Oversaw the establishment of DSA, managing military space operations and exploitation by Indian Defence Forces. |
| Expectations | - To enhance the Indian Air Force's operational readiness and technological advancements under his leadership. |