New Delhi: Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM, VM, has been appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force with effect from November 1, 2026. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command.
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM, VM, has been appointed as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), Indian Air Force, with effect from 01 November 2026. He is presently the Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Eastern Air Command.An accomplished fighter pilot with over 3,200 hours flying, he has commanded a MiG-27 Squadron, TACDE and Air Force Station Bareilly. His distinguished career includes tenures as Director of Air Staff Inspection and Defence Attaché of Japan and South Korea. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018.#IndianAirForce@SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia @HQ_IDS_India @indiannavy@CareerinIAF@air_veterans
An accomplished fighter pilot, Walia has logged more than 3,200 hours of flying experience across various fighter aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30MKI. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 11, 1988, after graduating from the Air Force Academy. He is also an Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner (IRIE).
During his career spanning more than three decades, Walia has held several command and staff appointments. He commanded a MiG-27 squadron, No. 222 Squadron, the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), and Air Force Station Bareilly. He also served as Director of Air Staff Inspection and Defence Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Japan, with responsibility for Japan and South Korea.
He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018.
After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, Walia took over as Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command in Shillong on September 9, 2024. On February 1, 2026, he assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command, succeeding Air Marshal Surat Singh, who retired on January 31, 2026.