Port Blair, Mar 13: Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, Chief of the Air Staff arrived at Port Blair on 12 Mar 14 for a two day visit to review the ongoing exercise under way at Andaman and Nicobar Command. The Chief of the Air Staff, who is accompanied by Mrs Lily Raha, President Air Force Wives Welfare Association were given a traditional welcome by Air Marshal and Mrs PK Roy on their arrival at INS Utkrosh.
At Port Blair, the Chief of the Air Staff, reviewed operational and administrative aspects of Andaman and Nicobar Command. The review focused on force structures, infrastructure development and the functioning of the operational scenario of the unique ANC. The unified functioning can be crucial in Operations and Aid to Civil Power, especially in times of crises and natural disasters. The visiting Air Chief was briefed on the ecological sensitivities as the nation develops the infrastructure providing for security.
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune with the President’s Gold Medal in 1973 and was commissioned in the Flying Branch in Dec 1974. An experienced fighter pilot, he is a Cat A Qualified Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader with nearly 3400 hrs of flying experience, mainly on fighter aircraft. He has served as Directing Staff at two premier institutes of the IAF i.e. Flying Instructors School and the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment. He has functioned as an inspector in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection in Air Headquarters and as Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff.
He was deputed as the Military and Air Attache` in the Embassy of India, Kiev, Ukraine from 1999 to 2001. He has held many operational assignments such as Commanding Officer of a MiG-29 Squadron, Station Commander of Air Force Station Bhatinda in Punjab during ‘OP PARAKRAM’, Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Adampur and Advance Headquarters Western Air Command, Chandimandir. He has also served as the Deputy Commandant Air Force Academy, Hyderabad and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Western Air Command.
He has the rare distinction of being the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of two Operational Commands i.e. Central Air Command and the Western Air Command. Before taking over as Chief of the Air Staff, he held the appointment of Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He is currently the Commodore Commandant of No 47 Squadron.
Air Chief Marshal Raha is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College, Delhi. For his distinguished service, he has been awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal. He was appointed as Honourary Aide-De-Camp (Air) to the Hon’ble President of India wef 01 Dec 2012.
The review of the ongoing Command exercise by the Chief of the Air Staff emphases the importance being accorded, as capacities and capabilities of the Defence Forces are shaped for the challenges through the entire spectrum of operations.
