Air Marshal Khanna assumes cost as AOC-in-C of Southern Air Command

He was commissioned within the fighter stream of the #Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, the federal government mentioned in an announcement.

“Air Marshal #Manish Khanna #Ati Vishisht Seva Medal , Vayu Sena Medal , assumed command of the Southern Air Command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief on June 1, 2025 at Thiruvananthapuram,” it mentioned.

The air officer is a class ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare and National Defence College.

“The air officer has over 4,000 hours of flying experience on various fighter and trainer aircraft,” it mentioned.

Apart from his wealthy operational expertise in air defence, floor assault, strategic reconnaissance and digital warfare, the air marshal has large ranging expertise within the coaching area, together with a world project because the Chief Flying Instructor with the Botswana Defence Forces, it added.

In his illustrious profession spanning nearly 4 a long time, he has served as commanding officer of the fighter squadron, air crew analyzing board, a serious flying base, advance headquarters, the Western Air Command and Commandant at College of Air Warfare amongst others.

The air marshal was Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Command previous to taking on the current appointment.

In one other announcement, the defence ministry on Sunday mentioned Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann took over as Senior Air Staff Officer of the IAF’s Western Air Command on June 1.

The air marshal is an alumni of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned as a fighter pilot within the IAF on December 16, 1989, it mentioned in an announcement.

He has flown over 3,000 hours totally on varied forms of fighter plane. He is a pilot assault teacher and in his operational profession, he has commanded a fighter squadron, been Chief Operations Officer of a ahead base and Air Officer Commanding of a premium fighter base, the ministry mentioned.