Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh took command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday, following Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, who had retired after three years of service. Singh is a skilled fighter pilot with over 5,000 flight hours, and he previously served as Vice Chief.
As Chief of Air Staff, his principal focus would be on obtaining new fighter jets and modernising the IAF to meet national security issues. He is also responsible for advancing the government’s theaterisation reform project.
Born on October 27, 1964, he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in December 1984. He graduated from the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College, and the National Defence College. Singh, a trained flying instructor and experimental test pilot, supervised the MiG-29 upgrade project in Moscow and served as the flight test project director for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft at the National Flight Test Centre.
During his 40-year career, Singh has held several distinguished roles, including Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command. He has received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and is well-known for his dedication to fitness.
