With over 3,600 hours of air fighting experience, Air Marshal SP Dharkar is going to be the next Vice Chief of Air Staff in the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is set to replace Air Marshal AP Singh who is promoted as Chief of Air Staff.

An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, National Defence Academy and Defence Services Staff College, Air Marshal Dharkar graduated from the Air War College, U S A, and is very well-equipped for this role after having gained rich experience and leadership skills. Commissioned June 1985, he has several prestigious qualifications under his credit, such as Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader, Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner.

Throughout his career, Dharkar has held important positions such as Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Training and Air Defence Commander to the Eastern Air Command. He has played a very important role as the first Director General of the Defence Space Agency in augmenting India’s defense capabilities in space.

For the past two years, he has commanded the Eastern Air Command, during which time he has profoundly accelerated the operation preparedness and training. His earlier tenure had included command of a frontline fighter squadron and of the Fighter Flying Training Establishment.

Apart from operational roles, Dharkar has contributory roles in Professional Military Education as instructor to both Defence Services Staff College and the College of Air Warfare in Secunderabad.

At a strategic hour, this decision by the Indian Air Force to designate Air Marshal SP Dharkar after it has started its march towards modernizing the fleet with improved capabilities to deal with the emergent security challenges is a welcome development. His long experience and strategic insight will make Dharker play a vital role in carving out the IAF’s mission of air safety for India.