Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. The official handover will take place on September 30, 2024, when Singh, who currently serves as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will assume leadership of the force.The Government of India confirmed his appointment in a statement, highlighting that Air Marshal Singh, awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), will be promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal upon taking charge.A storied career of Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh Born on October 27, 1964, Air Marshal Singh was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a fighter pilot in December 1984. Over nearly four decades of service, he has held numerous high-profile positions, including command, staff, instructional, and foreign postings.An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College, Singh boasts over 5,000 hours of flying experience on both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. He is also a qualified flying instructor and an experimental test pilot. His expertise and leadership have been evident throughout his career, including his command of an operational fighter squadron and a frontline airbase.Key contributions as a test pilotAs a test pilot, Air Marshal Singh made significant contributions to the modernization of the IAF. He led the MiG-29 upgrade project management team in Moscow and served as Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre. His role in overseeing the flight testing of Indias indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, was a major highlight of his career.Leadership transition in IAFAir Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, who has held the post since 2021, will step down on September 30, 2024, marking the beginning of a new chapter under the leadership of Air Marshal Singh.
