Air Marshal AK Gogoi assumes charge as new Chief of SWAC

Air Marshal AK Gogoi assumes charge as new Chief of SWAC
Gandhinagar, 1 January, 2011




Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi is new Chief of Indian Air Force’s South Western Air Command(SWAC) which is headquartered at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. He assumed charge today and interacted with media persons on this occasion.

Shri Gogoi was Director general air operations of the Indian Air Force prior to his this appointment. He was assistant chief of air staff (operations) at Air HQ before that.

A graduate of the National Defence Academy Air Marshal Gogoi was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in 1973. He has flown over 3000 hours on various aircraft.

A qualified flying instructor, Air Marshal Gogoi is a fighter combat leader and a graduate of Defence Services Staff College (Wellington).

He has held a variety of operational and staff assignments during his distinguished career. His operational assignments include command of a frontline fighter squadron, chief operations officer of an operational base and command of two premier airbases.

Staff appointments include tenures as command air defence officer at Eastern Air Command, joint director operations (offensive) and principle director operations (offensive) at Air HQ, air defence commander of South Western Air Command.

Air Marshal Gogoi has also undergone the Air Combat Simulator Instructors Course in UK, the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow and NDC (Executive National Security Programme) in South Africa.

He is an M Phil in defence and management studies from DAV University, Indore. He is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2005 for distinguished service of high order and Vishisht Seva Medal in 2002.

New radar for Gujarat

New Chief of Indian Airforce South Western Air Command(SWAC) A.K.Gogoi today said the Gujarat will get a new radar within two month. He didn’t reveal the location but said that out of 19 new radars that country is in process to induct to strengthen the Indian Air Force, the first radar would be set up in Gujarat. Gogoi said this in reply to question raised by journalist in a press meet on Saturday. He said Gujarat is very important area for IAF, and first allotment of radar is one of the steps that proves it.

In reply to another question Shri Gogoi said: “A fighter squadron has begun operations from the Phalodia airbase in Rajasthan, and we think Deesa airport in Gujarat could possibly get converted into an additional airbase for SWAC.”

“The initial formalities for converting Deesa airport into a full fledged airbase have begun. A proposal in this regard shall be prepared soon and send for clearance,” another IAF officer said.