Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan takes over as AOC-in-C Southern Air Command

Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command on May 1, 2023.

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He is an alumnus of Sainik School Kazhakootam and National Defense Academy, and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 7, 1986.
Manikantan has flown over 5400 hours on various types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and is a Helicopter Combat Leader and a Type Qualified Flying Instructor.
He has completed instructional tenure at National Defense Academy and Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE).
He has commanded a frontline helicopter unit and two major IAF stations, and has held the appointments of Senior Air and Administrative Staff Officer (SAASO) at HQ Maintenance Command and ACIDS Int-C at HQ IDS, responsible for international defence cooperation .
Prior to assuming the present appointment, he was the Senior Air Force Officer handling Air Operations at the Eastern Air Command.
The Air Marshal is a recipient of the Presidential Awards of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM).

About Indian Air Force

It is a branch of the Indian Armed Forces responsible for defending Indian airspace and conducting air operations in times of war.
Its main objective is to protect the sovereignty of the country by defending against any potential air threats and providing air support during military operations.

Establishment - 26 January 1950

Headquarters - Integrated Defense Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi

Motto - Nabhaḥ spṛṣṭa deeptam ("Touch the sky with glory")

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