Arup Raha

Air Marshal Arup Raha, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is the current Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. Raha is a fighter pilot who has logged over 3,400 hours of flying experience. Formerly he has been AOC-in-C of the Western Air Command. and that of the Central Air Command. Raha is a fighter pilot who has logged over 3,400 hours of flying experience.

Early life and education
Arup was born in a Bengali Hindu family in the city of Baidyabati,an area under the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority which is in the Indian State of West Bengal.His father was a reputed doctor. Raha was educated at Sainik School Purulia from the 1970 batch.

Military career
Raha was commissioned into Indian Air Force in December 1974. Raha has commanded a MiG-29 fighter squadron and two frontline airbases along the Western front. Raha has held many important staff appointments in India and abroad. Effective July 1, 2013, he is posted as the Vice Chief of Air Staff. From June 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command (India) of the Indian Air Force. From 02 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2012, He was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command. Prior to his appointment as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, he was holding the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer at Western Air Command. He has been the Directing Staff at Flying Instructors’ School, Tambaram, Chennai. From 8 June 1992 to 5 June 1994 he was the CO of the 47 Squadron IAF then based in Pune

Raha has flown an array of combat and trainer aircraft. After initial training on the HT-2, he has flown the MiG-21 and MiG-29. As on April 2, 2010, he had 3,400 hours of flying experience.

On 29 Oct 2013 Indian Government has decided Air Marshal Raha, who is at present the Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne.

Flight information

 * Flight hours: more than 3,400.
 * Aircraft flown: MiG-21, MiG-29 and HAL HT-2.