Air Commodore B.S. Vijay Rao has assumed the role of Air Officer Commanding at Base Repair Depot in Palam, New Delhi. With a career spanning over three decades in the Indian Air Force, he was commissioned into the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch on November 27, 1995. Notably, he is an Electrical Engineer and holds an Executive MBA, having graduated from the National Defence College and the Army War College.
Throughout his career, Air Commodore Vijay Rao has held various significant positions, including Chief Engineering Officer of a premier base. He has also served in key roles at Air Headquarters, contributing to the modernization, acquisition, and sustainment programs of the Indian Air Force.
Recognized for his distinguished service, Air Commodore Vijay Rao has received the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) from the President. He has represented the Indian Air Force in international professional assignments and has been involved in major upgrade and technology transfer programs with global aerospace organizations.
In a separate event, Headquarters Southern Air Command (SAC) recently conducted a joint maritime exercise called “Kalari Leap” in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy archipelago. This exercise involved forces from the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) and the Indian Coast Guard, with Air Ops playing a crucial role. The exercise saw the deployment of various assets, including An-32, Mi-17 V5, Su-30MKI aircraft, Indian Coast Guard ships, and Dornier 228 aircraft for search and rescue missions.
Acknowledging the support received, the Headquarters of Southern Air Command (HQ SAC) expressed gratitude to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Agatti, and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep (UTLA) Administration for their assistance during the successful execution of exercise “Kalari Leap.” A Mass Casualty Management drill was also conducted during the exercise, involving the evacuation of simulated battle casualties from Agatti to Thiruvananthapuram by an An-32 aircraft modified for the Air ambulance role.
