On Monday, Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan assumed command of Southern Air Command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C). He oversaw air operations as Eastern Air Command’s Senior Air Staff Officer before taking on his current position.
Manikantan, a graduate of the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla and the Sainik School in Kazhakootam, was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 7, 1986.
He has over 5400 hours of flight time on a variety of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft, and he is a type qualified flying instructor and a helicopter combat leader.
He has held the leadership of two elite IAF stations as well as a front-line Helicopter Unit.At the NDA and the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), the officer has held instructional positions.
ACIDS Int-C at HQ IDS, which is in charge of global defense cooperation, and Senior Air and Administrative Staff Officer (SAASO) at HQ Maintenance Command have both been positions he has held.
He graduated from the National Defence College in New Delhi with an MPhil and the College of Defence Management in Secunderabad with an MMS.
The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM) are Presidential Awards given to the Air Marshal.
