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Air Marshal Tejpal Singh on Saturday assumed charge as the Indian Air Force’s new Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, who retired after nearly four decades of service and was widely recognised as one of the key architects of Operation Sindoor.
Commissioned as a fighter pilot on June 16, 1990, Air Marshal Tejpal Singh brings over 3,500 hours of flying experience. A Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, he has held several operational, command and staff appointments across the IAF.
Air Marshal Singh takes over from Air Marshal Bharti, who superannuated on July 31 after 39 years in the IAF.
As Director General Air Operations, Air Marshal Bharti emerged as one of the public faces of Operation Sindoor and played a central role in planning and executing the IAF’s air campaign launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The operation saw India carry out precision strikes on Pakistani air bases, radar installations, air defence systems and terror infrastructure, prompting Islamabad to seek a ceasefire after the May 10 missile strikes.
On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Bharti disclosed that Indian forces had struck 11 Pakistani airfields and destroyed 13 aircraft, including a high-value airborne asset at a range exceeding 300 km, highlighting the scale of the tri-services campaign.
During his career, Air Marshal Bharti served in several key operational appointments at Air Headquarters, the Strategic Forces Command and Eastern Air Command. He also commanded 2 Wing at Pune and served as Senior Air Operations Officer at Central Air Command.
His stewardship of the IAF during Operation Sindoor underscored the service’s evolving doctrine of precision, integrated air power and networked air defence. For his leadership during the operation, he was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal.
Air Marshal Bharti assumed the post of Deputy Chief of the Air Staff shortly after the conclusion of Operation Sindoor. His retirement brings to a close a distinguished career that helped shape the IAF’s contemporary operational doctrine and combat capability.
Team BharatShakti
