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Manish Khanna (air marshal)
Indian Air Force air marshal From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Air Marshal Manish Khanna, UYSM, AVSM, VM is an officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 June 2025 succeeding Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan.[2]
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Early life and education
Manish Khanna is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, National Defence College, New Delhi, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, MDU Rohtak, and College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad.[3]
Career
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Manish Khanna was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986. In a career spanning over 38 years, he has as more than 4,000 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and trainers.[2]
He is a Category A qualified flying instructor. He served as the commanding officer of No. 35 Squadron and has extensive flying experience on MiG-21 aircraft.
As Group Captain, he served as the commanding officer of the Aircrew Examination Board in Hindon.
As Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Bidar, Karnataka. Later, he served as the Principal Director (Intelligence) and Principal Director Personnel Officer (PDPO) at Air Head Quarter in New Delhi. Later, he served as the Defence Opearatons, Weapon System at the Air Head Quarter in New Delhi.[1]
As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Air Officer Commanding, Advance HQ, Chandimandir. Later, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Personnel Officers in New Delhi. Afterwards, he commanded the College of Air Warfare in Secunderabad.[4]
After his promotion to Air Marshal on 3 July 2023, he took over as Senior Air Staff Officer of South Western Air Command. He succeeded Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and served till 31 May 2025. He was awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for his role in Operation Sindoor as SASO - SWAC.[5]
He took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command on 1 June 2025 from Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan.[2]
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Honours and decorations
During his career, Manish Khanna has been awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for his role in Operation Sindoor, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016 and Vayu Sena Medal in 2010 for his service.[6][7][8]
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| Uttam Yudh Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vayu Sena Medal |
References
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