Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, 59, will assume the role of Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on September 30, following an official announcement by the government on Saturday. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, who is retiring after serving three years in the top position.

Singh, a fighter pilot with over 5,000 flight hours, has been closely involved with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, a platform that will play a key role in strengthening IAF’s combat capabilities in the coming years.

As the IAF’s Vice Chief, he will take over leadership of the world’s fourth-largest air force at a critical time, marked by the modernization of the force with indigenously produced military hardware, the move toward theaterisation of military resources, and ongoing tensions with China in Ladakh.

Commissioned in December 1984, Singh’s career spans nearly four decades, during which he has held various command, staff, instructional, and international positions.

His roles have included commanding an operational fighter squadron and a frontline airbase, overseeing the MiG-29 upgrade project in Moscow, and serving as project director for flight testing of the Tejas LCA Mk-1.

Singh’s notable positions include Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command, and Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command. A qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, Singh is an alumnus of prestigious institutions such as the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College.