Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force had a telephone conversation with the newly appointed Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC today (03 October 2021). During the phone call the Sri Lanka Air Chief extended his warm wishes on being appointment to the prestigious office of the Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and the concurrent promotion to the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
Air Marshal Pathirana stated to Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari that this elevation is indeed an acknowledgement and recognition of his professional competency and dedicated service to the great nation of India and that under this new leadership, the Indian Air Force will reach greater heights to meet future challenges with success.
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari, an alumnus of the NDA was commissioned in December 1982 in the fighter stream of the IAF. He has flown more than 3800 hours on multiple fighter and trainer aircraft. During his career spanning almost four decades, the new CAS has tenanted many significant command and staff appointments. He has commanded a MiG-29 Squadron, two Air Force Stations and the Western Air Command. His staff appointments include Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Eastern Air Command, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers), Deputy Commandant of Air Force Academy and Air Assistant to Chief of the Air Staff. A Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor, he has served as an instructor at Flying Training Establishments and has also been an Air Force Examiner. He was a pioneer member of the Suryakiran Aerobatic Display Team. An alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he has served as a Directing Staff there. He has also served as Directing Staff at DSCSC in Zambia. Prior to assuming the present appointment, he was the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
