Southern Air Command gets new chief

Category : Appointment/Resignation Published on: May 04 2023

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Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of Southern Air Command on 01 May (Monday).
Prior to assuming the current appointment, he was the Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command, handling air operations.
An alumnus of Sainik School, Kazhakootam and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Manikantan was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on June 7, 1986.
He is a Helicopter Combat Leader and a Type Qualified Flying Instructor and has flown over 5400 hours on various types of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
He has commanded a frontline Helicopter Unit and two premier IAF stations.
He has held the appointments of Senior Air and Administrative Staff Officer (SAASO) of HQ Maintenance Command and of ACIDS Int-C at HQ IDS, responsible for international defence cooperation.
The Air Marshal is a recipient of the Presidential Awards Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM).