Air Marshal Prabhakaran takes over as head of IAF’s Western Air Command

Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran on March 1 took over as the commander of India’s most important formation for air warfare, the New Delhi-based Western Air Command.

He takes over the challenge of maintaining readiness for air superiority over Ladakh amidst the continuing face-off with China and providing air logistics support to the ground forces.

The IAF’s most potent airpower assets are positioned in the Western Air Command, which is responsible for the Western and Northern Fronts.

An experienced fighter pilot and Category ‘A’ Flying Instructor, Air Marshal Prabhakaran’s career in the IAF includes heading operations for the South-Western Air Command as its Senior Air Staff Officer, commanding the College of Air Warfare and two flying stations.

An alumnus of the National Defence College, he also led the famed Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team, served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Intelligence), Director-General (Inspection & Safety). The Air Marshal was commandant of the Air Force Academy before taking over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command.

Commissioned as a fighter pilot in December 1983, he extensively flew the MiG-21 pilot, logged over 5,000 hours of flying on a variety of aircraft. He has also served as India’s Defence Attache in Egypt.

Air Marshal Prabhakaran succeeds Air Marshal Amit Dev, who retired on February 28 after 39 years of service.

Vishal Thapar

BW Reporters Group Editorial Head for BW’s Defence, Security & Police