Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal takes charge of Eastern Air Command

Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force's Eastern Air Command on Sunday, November 1, the Ministry of Defence said in a release issued through the Press Information Bureau.

The Eastern Air Command is headquartered at Upper Shillong in Meghalaya. It is responsible for air defence and air operations over India's eastern and northeastern frontiers, including the long border with China in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, and the borders with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Who is Air Marshal Deswal

Deswal was commissioned into the IAF's flying branch as a fighter pilot on June 14, 1989. According to the ministry, he has more than 3,200 hours of flying on several fighter aircraft. He specialises in strike and air defence roles and is a qualified Pilot Attack Instructor, the IAF's weapons and tactics instructor qualification.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the National Defence College.

Over his career he has commanded a fighter squadron and two flying bases. Defence portal SSBCrack reported that the squadron he led flew the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. He has also served abroad as India's Air Attache at the Indian Embassy in Pakistan, and at Air Headquarters in New Delhi as Director General (Weapon Systems).

Just before this appointment he was Senior Air Staff Officer at the South Western Air Command, the second most senior post in that command, where he oversaw operational preparedness.

He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) for distinguished service.

Change at the top

Deswal succeeds Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, who moved to Air Headquarters in New Delhi on the same day to take over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, according to SSBCrack.

The change of command comes at a time of heightened focus on the eastern sector. Large infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, new advanced landing grounds and airfield upgrades in the region have made the Eastern Air Command's role in surveillance, airlift and disaster relief more prominent in recent years. The command also supports civil authorities across the North East during floods and landslides, flying rescue and relief missions when roads are cut off.