New Delhi [India], October 3 : New Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal SP Dharkar on Thursday paid tribute at the National War Memorial in the national capital.
Later, he received a Guard of Honour.
Air Marshal SP Dharkar, an ace fighter pilot, has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff, succeeding incumbent Air Marshal AP Singh, who has been designated as the next Chief of Air Staff.
An experienced fighter pilot with over 3,600 hours of flying, Dharkar is an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun, the National Defence Academy in Pune, the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, and the Air War College in the USA.
Commissioned in June 1985, he is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader, Instrument Rating Instructor, and Examiner, and has also served as an Air Force Examiner.
During his illustrious career, he has commanded a frontline fighter squadron and a Fighter Flying Training Establishment.
He has instructional experience in conducting Professional Military Education for medium and senior level officers at the Defence Services Staff College and at the College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad.
He has served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) at Air Headquarters and Air Defence Commander at Headquarters Eastern Air Command.
He has the distinction of being the first Director General of Defence Space Agency. He has been the head of Eastern Air Command for the last two years now.