Arup Raha to be new air force chief

New Delhi – Air Marshal Arup Raha, the Vice Chief of Air Staff, will be the next chief of the Air Force after Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne retires on Dec 31, 2013, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

Air Marshal Raha was commissioned into the Indian Air Force Dec 14, 1974, in the fighter stream of the Flying Branch.

During a career spanning over nearly 39 years, he held various command, staff and instructional appointments.

He served as Air Attache at the Indian embassy in Ukraine, and has commanded the Central Air Command and frontline Western Air Command.