Air Marshal Arup Raha, a fighter pilot, will Tuesday take over as the chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne.
The new air chief has had the distinction of heading the IAF's spearhead force, the Western Air Command, as also the Central Air Command.
Air Marshal Raha was commissioned into the IAF on Dec 14, 1974.
During a career spanning nearly 39 years, he has held various command, staff and instructional appointments as well as served as India's air attache in Ukraine.
Analysts said Raha will be be piloting the IAF in a crucial phase of its transformation.
