Air Marshal R K Sharma to retire

NEW DELHI: Vice Chief of the Air Staff Ravi Kant Sharma would retire today after 40 years of service.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned in the IAF in June 1975 as a fighter pilot.

During his distinguished career, the Air Marshal commanded a Combat Squadron of the IAF, the Air Force Test Pilot School, Prototype Test Squadron at Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) and a major Air Force base.

A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, he has been the Project Director (Flight Test) of the Light Combat Aircraft project. The officer also served abroad as a Defence Attaché, a statement said.

He had earlier held the appointments of Assistant Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Financial Planning), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command.