Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia Appointed as New Vice Chief of Indian Air Force

Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM, VM, has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), with effect from November 1, 2026. He will succeed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who is set to take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, 2026.

Air Marshal Walia is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Walia was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on June 11, 1988. He is qualified to operate various versions of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

With nearly four decades of distinguished service, he has held several important command and staff appointments in the Indian Air Force. He has commanded a frontline fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), and served as the Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Bareilly.

He has also completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College (NDC) course in Bangladesh.

During his career, Walia headed the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) of the IAF and served as Defence Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Japan and South Korea. He also held the position of Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command.

Apart from his professional achievements, Air Marshal Walia is an avid reader and holds three postgraduate degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies.

In recognition of his distinguished service to the nation, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018.

His appointment as Vice Chief of the Air Staff marks another important milestone in his nearly 40-year career in the Indian Air Force.