Western Air Command to get new chief as LAC tension simmers

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command (WAC), which oversees the sensitive Ladakh sector, is set to get a new chief even as the IAF remains on its highest state of alert to deal with any military provocation by Chinese forces amid tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the upcoming change of guard said on Friday.

Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari will take charge of the Delhi-based WAC on August 1, said one of the officials cited above. Chaudhari was closely associated with the Rafale programme in a previous role, and the IAF is inducting its batch of the fighters imported from France next week.

He will replace Air Marshal B Suresh who will retire on July 31. Chaudhari is currently serving as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command. He earlier held the appointment of

IAF deputy chief at the Air Headquarters in Delhi.