Air Marshal Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, VM is an officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Central Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 February 2023 succeeding Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh.[2]
Early life and education
Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad.
Career
Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor was commissioned as the fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 5,000 hours of flying experience across full gamut of fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.[3]
He is a Cat ‘A’ qualified flying instructor and served as the Chief Flying Instructor at Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He served as the commanding officer of MiG Operational Flying Training Unit - MOFTU and commanded the Indian Air Force contingent at UN Mission in Congo.
As Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 9 Wing at AFS Halwar in the Western sector and later as Air Attaché in the Indian Embassy at Washington, USA.[3]
As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence at New Delhi. During the 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes, he presented the evidence of F-16 usage by Pakistan Air Force and subsequent shoot down of the same by the Indian Air Force MiG-21.[4] However, US count of PAF's F-16 fleet and Independent media reports confirmed that no F-16 was shot down during aerial dogfight between IAF and PAF.[5][6] According to The National Bureau of Asian Research, such claims of an F-16 being shot down by India are said to be "debunked".[7]
Later, he served as the Air Defense Commander Central Air Command.
After his promotion to Air Marshal, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command and later as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief at Strategic Forces Command.[8]
He took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command on 1 February 2023 from Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh on his elevation to Vice Chief of Air Staff.[2][9]
Honours and decorations
During his career, Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor has received the Commendation by the Chief of the Air Staff twice and has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and VM in 2006 for his service.[10][11]
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| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vayu Sena Medal |
References
- ^ "Air Marshal Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor - BRF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Central Air Command gets new AOC-in-chief". Times Of India. 2 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Indian Air Force - Central Air Command". IAF. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "'Irrefutable Evidence' Of Shooting Down Pak F-16, Says IAF, Shows Radar Images". Outlook India. 8 April 2019.
- ^ "IAF Did Not Shoot Down Pak F-16 in Balakot Aftermath, Says US Scholar Christine Fair". The Wire. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Seligman, Lara (28 February 2024). "Did India Shoot Down a Pakistani Jet? U.S. Count Says No". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "The Strategic Implications of India's Illiberalism and Democratic Erosion". The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "Air Marshal AP Singh is new IAF Vice-Chief". The Tribune. 1 February 2023.
- ^ "एयर मार्शल आरजीके के कपूर सीएसी के एओसी इन चीफ का पदभार संभाला" (in Hindi). Live Hindustan. 2 February 2023.
- ^ "President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day" (Press release). PIB. 25 January 2022.
- ^ "75th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 80 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous". PIB (Press release). 25 January 2024.
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