Air Marshal Arup Raha new chief of Western Air Command

Central Air Command chief Air Marshal Arup Raha today assumed charge as AOC-in-C, Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force in New Delhi. Raha graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune with the President’s Gold Medal in 1973. He was commissioned in the Flying Branch in Decemeber 1974. Raha has to his credit nearly 3,400 hours of flying mainly on fighter aircraft.[caption id=“attachment_329054” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Air Marshal Arup Raha inspecting the guard of honour on taking over as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Air Command, in New Delhi on Friday. Image courtesy PIB”]  [/caption] Raha is an experienced Qualified Flying Instructor holding ‘A2’ instructional category. Raha served as a Directing Staff at Flying Instructors School, Tambaram and as at the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) of the IAF. He was an inspector in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection at Air Headquarters and has remained Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff. Raha was deputed as the Military and Air Attaché in the Embassy of India, Kyiv, Ukraine from 1999 to 2001. The officer held many operational assignments such as commanding officer of MiG-29 Squadron, Station Commander of Air Force Station Bathinda during Operation Parakram. Raha was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1995 and 2009 respectively for distinguished service.