Surat Singh (air marshal)
Surat Singh | |
|---|---|
| Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2024 | |
| Chief of Air Staff | Amar Preet Singh |
| Preceded by | Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch/service | Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 6 December 1986 – Present |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Unit | No. 223 Squadron |
| Commands |
|
| Service number | 18563[1] |
| Awards | |
Air Marshal Surat Singh, AVSM, VM, VSM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command.[2] He previously served as the Director General Air (Operations).[3]
Early life and education
The Air officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of the Command and Staff College, Australia and National Defence College, Bangladesh.
Military career
He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986 from the Air Force Academy.[4] In a career spanning over three decades, he has more than 2900 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and has held training & staff appointments. He is a highly experienced fighter pilot and has flown various fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force which include variants of the MiG-21, MiG-29 and Su- 30 MKI.[5] The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron in the Northern Sector. As a Group Captain, he served as the Commandant of Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and as the station commander of 505 Signal Unit.[6] As an Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 2 Wing at Lohegaon and as Air Commodore (Offensive Operations). He has also served as Director at the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) at the Air Headquarters, Air-1 at South Western Air Command, Principal Director at Directorate of Personnel (Officers) & Directorate of Operations (Offensive).
As an Air Vice Marshal, he assumed the appointment of Air Defence Commander, Easter Air Command and later served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Operations (Space).[7]
After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, he was appointed as the Director General Air (Operations).[3] On 1 October 2024, Air Marshal, Surat Singh took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar who moved to the Air Headquarters as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.[8]
Awards and decorations
During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015,[9] the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011 and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008.[10]
Dates of ranks
| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Officer | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1986[11] | |
| Flying Officer | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1987[11] | |
| Flight Lieutenant | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1991[11] | |
| Squadron Leader | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1997[11] | |
| Wing Commander | Indian Air Force | 5 May 2003[11] | |
| Group Captain | Indian Air Force | 2 March 2009[11] | |
| Air Commodore | Indian Air Force | 17 June 2013[11] | |
| Air Vice Marshal | Indian Air Force | 11 June 2019[11] | |
| Air Marshal | Indian Air Force | 1 December 2022 (AOC-in-C from 1 October 2024)[11] |
References
- ^ https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/18563
- ^ Negi, Manjeet (1 October 2024). "Air Marshal Surat Singh takes charge of Eastern Air Command". India Today. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ a b "The seminar was inaugurated by Air Marshal Surat Singh, AVSM, VM, VSM, DG Air Ops, Air HQ. He suggested what India needs to do?, with highlighting the need for combination of active and passive sensor, and the Artificial Intelligence and machine learning". x.com (formerly twitter). Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Surat Singh 18563 F(P)". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Eastern Air Command". Indian Air Force: Touch The Sky With Glory. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Surat Singh Takes Charge as AOC-in-C of Eastern Air Command". www.timesnownews.com. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Air Force ready for any contingency within or outside country: AVM Surat Singh". ANI News. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Surat Singh takes over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command". ANI News. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Awardee List for the year 2015 , Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Republic Day gallantry and other Defence decorations 2008". PIB. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Service Record for Air Marshal Surat Singh 18563 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 15 December 2025.