Awadhesh Kumar Bharti

Air Marshal
Awadhesh Kumar Bharti
SYSM AVSM VM
Air Marshal Bharti during press briefing of Operation Sindoor
49th Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
In office
1 June 2025 – 31 July 2026
Chief of the Air StaffAmar Preet Singh
Preceded byTejinder Singh
Succeeded byTejpal Singh
Director General Air Operations
In office
1 October 2024 – 31 May 2025
Chief of the Air StaffAmar Preet Singh
Preceded bySurat Singh
Succeeded byGeorge Thomas
Personal details
Born
Purnea, Bihar
Alma materIndian Air Force Academy
National Defence Academy
Sainik School, Tilaiya
NicknameGalloping Horse
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service
13 June 1987 – 31 July 2026
Rank Air Marshal
UnitNo. 30 Squadron
Commands
BattlesOperation Vijay
Operation Parakram
Operation Sindoor
Service number18781
Awards

Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, SYSM, AVSM,VM is a former senior officer of the Indian Air Force.[1] He last served as the 49th Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.[2] During Operation Sindoor, he was the face of the Indian Air Force as the Director General Air Operations.[3] He was also the Commodore Commandant of No. 24 Squadron.[1]

Early life and education

Bharti was born in Purnia district of Bihar.[4] His father is Jiwachh Lal Yadav, a retired govt personnel of Kosi Project and his mother is Urmila Devi.[5] He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Tilaiya.[4][6] He then attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He was awarded the Sword of Honour for standing first in overall merit in his course at the Air Force Academy.[4] He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi.[7] During his NDA days, Air Marshal Bharti was nicknamed ‘Galloping Horse’, as his cross country record there remained unbroken for many years.[7]

Military career

Bharti was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 13 June 1987 from the Air Force Academy. In a career spanning over three decades, he has more than 5000 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and has held numerous field and staff appointments.[8] He is a highly experienced combat fighter pilot and has flown different types of aircraft including SU-30MKI and SU-30MKM. He has led and been a part of many air exercises including Gagan Shakti, Garuda and Indradhanush.[9][10] He has been Flight Commander of a Sukhoi-30 fighter squadron, No. 24 Squadron, and Commanding Officer of a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter squadron, No. 30 Squadron.[11][12] He was awarded ‘Three Stars’ for accident-free flying. The air marshal’s operational tenures include being Air Officer Commanding of a frontline fighter air base, in Lohagaon, under South Western Air Command.[13][14] His staff appointments include Air Attaché with Royal Malaysian Air Force where he trained Malaysian fighter pilots on SU-30 MKM.[15][16]

As an air vice marshal, Bharti served as the Chief Staff Officer (Air Vector Strategy) in Strategic Forces Command[1] and later as Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Offensive Operations at IAF Headquarters.[1] He also served as Air Officer Commanding of Advanced HQ, Eastern Air Command.[1][17]

After being promoted to the rank of air marshal, Bharti was appointed as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command.[18] A year later, on 3 October 2024, he assumed the appointment of Director General Air Operations (DGAO). As the DGAO, he played a vital role in India's Operation Sindoor.[18][19] On 1 June 2025, Bharti took over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff[1] with responsibilities of overseeing defense innovation[20][21] in collaboration with industry and academia[22][23] and indigenisation efforts[24][25] besides long-term strategic planning and leadership of defense personnel.[26][27]

Personal life

Bharti is married to Wing Commander Sangeeta Malla (Retd).[17][15] The couple has two children.[15] His hobbies include reading, swimming, playing golf and walking.[28]

Awards and decorations

During his career, Bharti has been awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal on Independence Day 2025,[29] the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024[30] and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008.[31] He has also received commendations from the Chief of Air Staff.[1]

Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayu Sena Medal Samanya Seva Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of ranks

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Pilot Officer Indian Air Force 13 June 1987[1]
Flying Officer Indian Air Force 13 June 1988[1]
Flight Lieutenant Indian Air Force 13 June 1992[1]
Squadron Leader Indian Air Force 13 June 1998[1]
Wing Commander Indian Air Force 11 May 2004[1]
Group Captain Indian Air Force 1 June 2009 (acting 13 Sep 2010)[1]
Air Commodore Indian Air Force 17 June 2013[1]
Air Vice Marshal Indian Air Force 4 December 2019[1]
Air Marshal Indian Air Force 1 September 2023[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Service Record for Air Marshal Awadesh Kumar Bharti 18781 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Air Marshal A.K. Bharti Takes Over As Deputy Chief Of The Air Staff - Aryavart Herald". 2 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  3. ↑ MCC, IAF (3 October 2024). "Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti assumed the position of Director General Air Operations today". x.com.
  4. 1 2 3 Yadav, Jyoti (25 May 2025). "Sainik School to Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Bharti is Purnea's pride. 'See! He is on TV'". ThePrint. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Operation Sindoor: He Stayed True To His Childhood Resolve, Says DG Air Ops Bharti's Mother". News18. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  6. ↑ "Air Marshal AK Bharti, SYSM,AVSM,VM Deputy Chief of the Air Staff visited Sainik School Tilaiya". X (formerly Twitter).
  7. 1 2 "Op Sindoor architect Air Marshal Bharti gives fresh fame and pride to parents and Purnia". Hindustan Times. 12 May 2025. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  8. ↑ Sentinels, India. "Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti: Bihar boy who planned India's Operation Sindoor airstrikes in Pakistan". www.indiasentinels.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Who is Air Marshal AK Bharti? One of the minds behind India's air strikes against Pakistan". Hindustan Times. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Sainik Samachar Volume 54 2007. Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence.
  11. ↑ "IAF Sukhois win 'Spirit of the Meet' trophy in UK". The Times of India. 16 July 2007. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Wing Commander AK Bharti (then CO) from No. 30th Sqn (Rhinos) #shorts. Retrieved 9 June 2026 – via www.youtube.com.
  13. ↑ "Air Commodore Nair takes charge of AFS, Lohegaon". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "10-ft high compound wall at airbase". The Times of India. 2 October 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 "Speakers Page - Indian Military". Indian Military -. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Visit by Deputy Chief of Air Staff of India, #IAF to Malaysia". hci_kualalumpur (Instagram page). Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Eastern Command AOC-in-C visits Air Force establishments in Kolkata". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  18. 1 2 Bharat, E. T. V. (13 May 2025). "A Mother's Ardent Wish Gave India Her Brave Air Marshal AK Bharti, Who Played Vital Role In Operation Sindoor". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  19. ↑ Service, Statesman News (16 May 2026). "'Sindoor marked a new normal'". The Statesman. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "C PRO South Western Air Command (@SWAC_IAF) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "NETRA AEW&C gets final operational clearance: What it means for India's defence and surveillance capabilities". @theweek. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Sanlayan Group's High-Voltage Power Supply Among Seven DRDO Technologies Transferred to the Armed Forces". ANI News. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Deputy Chief of the Air Staff engaged with IISc leadership". IAF Instagram. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  24. ↑ Trivedi, Saurabh (30 September 2025). "Bridging the fighter jet gap is top priority: IAF Deputy Chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  25. ↑ Singh, Rahul (15 May 2026). "IAF deputy chief to review C295 project in Vadodara". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  26. ↑ Rana, Javaria (5 May 2026). "Year after Operation Sindoor, top military brass spells out growing China-Pak collusion". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "Air Chief Marshal AP Singh visits Ladakh during Diwali, lauds IAF and Army personnel for their dedication". ANI News. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "Small-town roots, sky-high valour: Bihar's sons at the helm of Operation Sindoor". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day". PIB Delhi. 14 August 2025.
  30. ↑ "75th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 80 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous". PIB. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  31. ↑ "Republic Day gallantry and other Defence decorations 2008". PIB. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
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