Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Takes Charge as IAF Vice Chief
Decorated fighter pilot assumes office as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on January 1, 2026
- Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff
- Veteran fighter pilot with over 3,400 flying hours
- Served as AOC-in-C of Training Command and South Western Air Command
- Recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Jan: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor SYSM PVSM AVSM VM assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force on January 1, 2026, marking a new chapter in the IAF’s leadership.
A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Kapoor was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Flying Branch on December 6, 1986. An experienced fighter pilot, he is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Fighter Combat Leader, with more than 3,400 flying hours on various combat and trainer aircraft, including all variants of the MiG-21 and MiG-29.
An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College, he has rendered over 39 years of distinguished service and held key command, instructional and staff appointments. His operational tenures include Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron in the Central Sector, Station Commander of a flying base in the Western Sector, and Air Officer Commanding of a premier air base.
He has also served as Chief Instructor (Flying) at the Air Force Academy and Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. During his tenure at the Air Force Academy, he played a pivotal role in the induction and operationalisation of the PC-7 Mk II aircraft into the IAF.
Air Marshal Kapoor has also served as Defence Attaché to Pakistan and held important staff positions such as Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Strategy), Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command, and Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel at Air Headquarters.
Before assuming the role of Vice Chief, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command and subsequently as AOC-in-C of South Western Air Command.
In recognition of his exemplary service, he has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (2008), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2022), and the prestigious Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (2025).
He succeeds Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who superannuated after completing 40 years of distinguished service to the nation.
