India Appoints New Chiefs for Army, Air Force

General Bipin Rawat and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa took over as the new chiefs of the India Army and Air Force  respectively on Saturday.

Lt General Rawat commanded an infantry battalion, along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, a Rashtriya Rifles Sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley, a Corps in the Eastern theatre and the Southern Command, the Indian MoD announced.

He has also tenanted instructional appointments at Indian Military Academy and at Army War College. Moreover, he has held important staff appointments at Directorate General of Military Operations and Military Secretary’s Branch at Army HQ.

Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa also took charge as the 25th Air Force Chief replacing Arup Raha. The new IAF chief, Air Marshal Dhanoa, had developed the country’s aerial targeting philosophy against potential adversaries and transformed the concept of air operations of the Air Force into contemporary war fighting practises.

He has mainly flown Kiran and MiG-21 aircraft, though he has the experience of flying the entire spectrum of fighter aircraft from Jaguar to state-of-the-art MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI.

Gen.Dalbir Singh Suhag, who was Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army superannuated on Saturday after 42 years of service. He said infiltration bids had increased during the year and the number of terrorists killed was nearly double the previous year. The General said the Army focused on operational preparedness during his tenure. Later at noon, he handed over the charge to Gen. Rawat.