New Delhi [India], April 29 (HBTV): The Indian Air Force will have a new Vice Chief as Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari is set to succeed Air Marshal SP Dharkar on May 1.

Air Marshal Dharkar will retire on April 30 after serving more than 40 years in the force. Air Marshal Tiwari is currently heading the South Western Air Command in Gandhinagar.

He will be succeeded at the South Western Air Command by the present chief of the Training Command.

In another key development, the tri-services Integrated Defence Staff will have a new Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC). Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been approved to take over as the new CISC, replacing Lt Gen JP Matthew, who retires on April 30.

The CISC plays a vital role in facilitating coordination among the three armed forces and operates as part of the Chief of Defence Staff’s team in managing tri-services affairs. Air Marshal Dixit, a Mirage 2000 fighter pilot, is presently heading the Central Air Command in Prayagraj. He will assume office on May 1.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army’s Northern Command, which oversees operations along the China and Pakistan borders in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, will also see a change in leadership. Lt Gen Prateek Sharma will take over as the new General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command.

Lt Gen Sharma is currently serving as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) at Army Headquarters and has previously held the position of Director General Military Operations. He will succeed Lt Gen MV Suchendra Kumar, who retires on April 30.

Lt Gen Sharma recently accompanied Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi to Srinagar following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

(ANI)