Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh. (Photo: IAF)
New Delhi: Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed the next chief of the Indian Air Force. He will take charge as the IAF chief on September 30, from the incumbent, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, who retires on that day.
AM Singh, currently serving as vice-chief of air staff, will be elevated to the rank of air chief marshal upon assuming the role.
Born on October 27, 1964, AM Singh was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in December 1984. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has logged more than 5,000 flying hours across various aircraft, both fixed-wing and rotary. Singh is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; Indian Air Force Academy, Dundigal; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; and National Defence College, New Delhi.
His expertise also includes being a qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot.
As a wing commander, AM Singh has commanded the No. 22 Squadron comprising MiG-27s at the Hasimara airbase. As a test pilot, he led the MiG-29 upgrade project in Russia, which was crucial in enhancing the fleet’s operational capabilities. He also served as project director at the National Flight Test Centre, where he oversaw the flight testing of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
In addition to his operational roles, Singh has held several key staff positions. These include air-defence commander of the Gandhinagar-headquartered South Western Air Command and senior air staff officer at the Shillong-headquartered Eastern Air Command. Prior to becoming the IAF vice-chief, he was the air officer commanding in chief (AOC-in-C) of the Prayagraj-headquartered Central Air Command, where he managed the command’s air operations and strategic planning.
AM Singh’s contributions to the Air Force have earned him multiple accolades, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). These awards recognize his distinguished service and leadership within the force.
AM Singh will be the fourth Sikh Air Force chief after Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh (August 1, 1964 – July 15, 1969), Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh (September 1, 1981 – September 3, 1983), Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa (January 1, 2017 – September 30, 2019).
Beyond his professional life, AM Singh is known to enjoy squash, reflecting his emphasis on fitness, an essential aspect of military discipline. He is married to Sarita Singh, and they have two children.
As the incoming IAF chief, AM Singh’s leadership will be critical as the force continues its modernization efforts, integration with other two services – Indian Army and Indian Navy – for theaterization, and adapts to evolving security challenges.
