Saswati Sarma,New Delhi , September 30 : Ace fighter pilot Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari , who was assigned in Ladakh sector during the heights of the crisis with China , takes over as the New Chief of Air Staff from Air Chief Marshal R.K.S Bhadauria on Thursday.
Chaudhari would be taking control over the force at this time when the country still continues to be in a deadlock position at the borders with China accompanied by the high stiffness of the situation in Afghanistan. He would also be responsible for the functioning of modern air defence systems like the S-400 from Russia , which will soon to be inducted.
The New Chief would also be accountable to the modernisation of the fighter aircraft fleet since more indegenous and foreign origin fighter aircraft have already been planned to be installed. Chaudhari also ensured the smooth induction of the Rafales into the Indian Air Force (IAF) as the Ambala airbase was looked after by him as Western Air Commander.