Air Marshal
Harjit Singh Arora
PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Arora in 2019
44th Vice Chief of the Air Staff
In office
1 October 2019 – 30 June 2021
Preceded byRakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
Succeeded byVivek Ram Chaudhari
Personal details
Born(1961-06-25)25 June 1961
Died21 January 2023(2023-01-21) (aged 61)
New Delhi, India
SpouseBaljeet Arora
Children2 sons
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service1981–2021
Rank Air Marshal
CommandsVice Chief of the Air Staff
South Western Air Command
Director General Air Operations
Director General of Inspection and Safety
Service number16557[1]
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora PVSM, AVSM, ADC (25 June 1961 – 21 January 2023) was an officer of the Indian Air Force and served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff from 1 October 2019 to 30 June 2021. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.[2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

Arora was an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He graduated from the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment in Gwalior. He also had an M. Phil. in defence and strategic studies.

Career

Arora was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in December 1981. He had flying experience of over 2600 hours on Mig-21, Mig-29, and also helicopters.[6]

Arora has commanded a Mig-21 squadron and then Air Defence Direction Center as a Group Captain in the southwestern sector. He has also commanded 45 Squadron as a wing commander. He has held other posts including air officer commanding of the Adampur Air Force Station, air defence commander at Western Air Command Headquarters, air defence commander at Eastern Air Command Headquarters, directing staff at Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment and as a flying inspector in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection. He also served as a defence attaché at the Indian embassy at Bangkok from 2006 to 2009.[6][7]

Arora served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command from 30 September 2018 after superannuation of Air Marshal Ravinder Kumar Dhir, to 30 September 2019. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia.[7][8][9][10]

Arora was appointed the Vice Chief of Air Staff on 28 September 2019 following elevation of Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhaduria as Chief of Air Staff.[11]

Later life and death

Arora superannuated on 30 June 2021 after 39 years of service.[5] Arora died on 21 January 2023, at the age of 61.[12]

Honours and decorations

In his career of over 38 years, Arora was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2011 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2020.[1][13]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Personal life

Arora was married to Baljeet; the couple have two sons.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "440 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced" (Press release). 25 January 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "AIR MARSHAL VIVEK RAM CHAUDHARI PVSM AVSM VM ASSUMES CHARGE AS VICE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF". PIB. 1 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Rapid Turnover in IAF Brass". Bharat Shakti. 29 May 2021.
  4. ↑ @IAF_MCC (1 October 2019). "Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora, took over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff today. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of IAF in Dec 1981. He has a vast experience in operational flying on modern and legacy fighters in the IAF inventory" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. 1 2 "Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora AVSM ADC assumes charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff". 1 October 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Air Marshal HS Arora AVSM Takes Over as Director General Air (Operations)" (Press release). 26 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora AVSM takes over Command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Air Command" (Press release). 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "Air Marshal Arora is South-Western Commander-in-Chief". 1 October 2018.
  9. ↑ @DefencePRO_Guj (30 September 2019). "Air Marshal HS Arora Ati Vishist Seva Medal ADC, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, handed over command of #SouthWesternAirCommand today. He proceeds to Air HQ to take over as Vice Chief of Air Staff from 01 Oct 19" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "Air Marshal HS Arora hands over command of HQ SWAC to take over as Vice Chief". 30 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "Air Marshal HS Arora appointed as IAF Vice Chief | India News". www-timesnownews-com.cdn.ampproject.org. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  12. ↑ पूर्व वायु सेना प्रमुख एयर मार्शल हरजीत सिंह अरोड़ा का निधन, बरार स्क्वायर में होगा अंतिम संस्कार (in Hindi)
  13. ↑ "Distinguished Service and Gallantry Awards to IAF Personnel on Republic Day - 2020". 25 January 2020.
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