Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed as the new chief of the Indian Air Force, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. He is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff and will officially take charge on September 30.

The defence ministry announced that Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who currently holds the position of Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will become the next Chief of the Air Staff, taking on the rank of Air Chief Marshal.

Who is Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh

Air Marshal Singh began his career in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in December 1984 and has built a remarkable career that has lasted nearly 40 years.He has held various important roles, including command, staff, and instructional positions, as well as assignments abroad.

A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College, he boasts over 5,000 flying hours on both fixed-wing and rotary aircraftSingh is a certified flying instructor and has also served as an experimental test pilot.

Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh
Image Source: Sarkar Darbar

Singh’s Early Career

Over the course of his notable career,Air Marshal Singh has commanded both an operational fighter squadron and a frontline air base. As a test pilot, he led the MiG-29 upgrade project management team in Moscow and served as the project director for flight testing at the National Flight Test Centre, where he oversaw the flight testing of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas.

His previous ranks include Air Defence Commander at the South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command. Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he held the role of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command.

Leadership at a Critical Time

Singh assumed his new role at a critical time when the LCA Mk-1A program, an advanced version of the Mk-1 aircraft, was facing delays, raising concerns within the IAF about its potential impact on combat effectiveness.

A retired officer, who served as Commander in Chief of the EAC praised Air Marshal Singh for consistently excelling in all his duties. He characterised Singh as possessing a "dynamic personality and a high level of professionalism."

The retired officer noted that Singh's keen attention to detail ensured that tasks assigned to the EAC were carried out effectively and to the satisfaction of everyone involved. This included various responsibilities, such as peacetime operations, Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR), and the development of war plans for optimal resource utilisation.

Personal Interest

Outside of his professional achievements Air Marshal Singh is also an excellent cook, known for making delicious dishes. He takes out time to cook whenever he can. His wife, Dolly Singh, has been a great support to him, and the couple is often seen complementing each other’s outfits at gatherings.

Besides cooking Air Marshal Singh loves playing squash and is a fitness enthusiast. While stationed in Shillong a few years ago, he regularly led trekking trips.

According to a source, Singh values physical fitness and flying fighter aircraft. He is a dedicated pilot. Recently, he demonstrated his support for indigenization by flying the light combat aircraft Tejas during the Tarang Shakti exercise in Jodhpur, where he flew alongside the vice chiefs of the army and navy. However, he emphasised that while self-reliance is important, it should not compromise India’s defence.

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