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{{Short description|Air Marshal in Indian Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| name = Surat Singh
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|size=90%|PVSM|AVSM|VM|VSM}}
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = File:Air Marshal Surat Singh.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| alt =
| caption =
| office = [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief<br>Eastern Air Command]]
| term_start = 1 October 2024
| term_end = 31 January 2026
| 1blankname = [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of Air Staff]]
| 1namedata = [[Amar Preet Singh]]
| predecessor = [[Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar]]
| successor = [[Inderpal Singh Walia]]
| birth_date = 
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| birth_place =
| allegiance = {{Country|India}}
| branch = {{Air force|India}}
| service_years = 6 December 1986 – 31 January 2026
| rank = [[File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg|24px]] [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| military_blank1 = [[Service number]]
| military_data1 = 18563<ref>https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/18563</ref>
| unit = [[No. 223 Squadron IAF|No. 223 Squadron]]
| commands = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Eastern Air Command (India).png|16px]] [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Eastern Air Command]]
* [[Lohagaon|2 Wing]]
* [[Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment|TACDE]]
* 505 Signal Unit
* [[No. 223 Squadron IAF|No. 223 Squadron]]
}}
| battles =
| battles_label =
| military_blank2 = Awards
| military_data2 = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Vayu Sena Medal]]
* [[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
}}
| spouse =
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| alma_mater =
}}
[[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] '''Surat Singh,''' [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] is a retired [[air officer]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]. He last served as the [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Negi |first=Manjeet |date=2024-10-01 |title=Air Marshal Surat Singh takes charge of Eastern Air Command |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/air-marshal-surat-singh-takes-charge-of-eastern-air-command-2609710-2024-10-01 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> He previously served as the Director General Air (Operations).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The seminar was inaugurated by Air Marshal Surat Singh, AVSM, VM, VSM, DG Air Ops, Air HQ. He suggested what India needs to do?, with highlighting the need for combination of active and passive sensor, and the Artificial Intelligence and machine learning |url=https://x.com/CAPS_INDIA/status/1670686577687941121 |access-date=15 Dec 2025 |website=x.com (formerly twitter)}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
The [[Air officer]] is an alumnus of the [[National Defence Academy]], Khadakwasla and the [[Air Force Academy (India)|Air Force Academy]], Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of the [[Australian Defence College|Command and Staff College]], [[Australia]] and [[National Defence College (Bangladesh)|National Defence College]], [[Bangladesh]].

== Military career ==
He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the [[Indian Air Force]] on 6 December 1986 from the [[Air Force Academy (India)|Air Force Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Marshal Surat Singh 18563 F(P) |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/18563 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref> In a career spanning over three decades, he has more than 2900 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and has held training & staff appointments. He is a highly experienced fighter pilot and has flown various fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force which include variants of the MiG-21, MiG-29 and Su- 30 MKI.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Eastern Air Command |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/commands/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230530003311/https://indianairforce.nic.in/commands/ |archive-date=2023-05-30 |access-date=2025-12-15 |work=Indian Air Force: Touch The Sky With Glory |language=en-US}}</ref> The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron in the Northern Sector. As a [[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]], he served as the Commandant of [[Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment|Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE)]] and as the station commander of 505 Signal Unit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=Air Marshal Surat Singh Takes Charge as AOC-in-C of Eastern Air Command |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/air-marshal-surat-singh-takes-charge-as-aoc-in-c-of-eastern-air-command-article-113860377 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=www.timesnownews.com |language=en}}</ref> As an [[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]], he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 2 Wing at Lohegaon and as Air Commodore (Offensive Operations). He has also served as Director at the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) at the Air Headquarters, Air-1 at [[South Western Air Command]], Principal Director at Directorate of Personnel (Officers) & Directorate of Operations (Offensive).

As an [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]], he assumed the appointment of Air Defence Commander, [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Easter Air Command]] and later served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Operations (Space).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Force ready for any contingency within or outside country: AVM Surat Singh |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/air-force-ready-for-any-contingency-within-or-outside-country-avm-surat-singh20200408185149/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref>

After being promoted to the rank of [[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]], on 1 January 2023 he assumed the appointment of Director General Air (Operations) at the Air Headquarters.<ref name=":0" /> On 1 October 2024, [[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] Surat Singh took over as the [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command]] succeeding [[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] [[Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar]] who moved to the Air Headquarters as the [[Vice Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Air Staff]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Marshal Surat Singh takes over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/air-marshal-surat-singh-takes-as-air-officer-commanding-in-chief-eastern-air-command20241002082326/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref> He superannuated on 31 January 2026 after serving for nearly four decades.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Air Marshal Surat Singh Retires as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command|url=https://www.ssbcrack.com/2026/01/air-marshal-surat-singh-retires-as-air-officer-commanding-in-chief-eastern-air-command.html|date=2026-01-31|access-date=2026-01-31|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Awards and decorations ==
During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2026,<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Jan 2026|title=77th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous & military decorations to 301 personnel.|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2218540&reg=3&lang=1|access-date=25 Jan 2026|website=Press Information Bureau}}</ref> the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awardee List for the year 2015 , Indian Air Force - Database |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/awards/awards.php?qyear=2015&qaward=&qunit=&qname=&qnum= |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref> the [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2011 and the [[Vayu Sena Medal]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Jan 2008 |title=Republic Day gallantry and other Defence decorations 2008 |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=34900&reg=3&lang=2 |access-date=16 Dec 2025 |website=PIB}}</ref>
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|[[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|frameless|105x105px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|105x105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND_Samanya_Seva_medal.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_Special_Service_Medal_Ribbon.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_Operation_Vijay_medal.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_Operation_Parakram_medal.svg|105x105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND_Sainya_Seva_Medal_Ribbon.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_High_Altitude_Medal_Ribbon.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_Videsh_Seva_Medal_Ribbon.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:75yearmedal.svg|105x105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND_50th_Anniversary_Independence_medal.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_30_Years_Long_Service_Ribbon.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105x105px]]
|[[File:IND_9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105x105px]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Vayu Sena Medal]]
|[[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|[[Special Service Medal (India)|Special Service Medal]]
|[[Operation Vijay Medal]]
|[[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sainya Seva Medal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|High Altitude Medal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Videsh Seva Medal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |[[75th Independence Anniversary Medal (India)|75th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |[[50th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|}

== Dates of ranks ==
{| class="wikitable" style="background:white"
!Insignia
!Rank
!Component
!Date of rank
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-1a.svg|64x64px]]
|[[Pilot Officer]]
|Indian Air Force
|6 December 1986<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Service Record for Air Marshal Surat Singh 18563 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/18563 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-1b.svg|64x64px]]
|[[Flying officer|Flying Officer]]
|Indian Air Force
|6 December 1987<ref name=":2" />
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-2.svg|64x64px]]
|[[Flight Lieutenant]]
|Indian Air Force
|6 December 1991<ref name=":2" />
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-3.svg|64x64px]]
|[[Squadron Leader]]
|Indian Air Force
|6 December 1997<ref name=":2" />
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-4.svg|64x64px]]
|[[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]
|Indian Air Force
|5 May 2003<ref name=":2" />
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-5.svg|64x64px]]
|[[Group Captain]]
|Indian Air Force
|2 March 2009<ref name=":2" />
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-6.svg|65x65px]]
|[[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]]
|Indian Air Force
|17 June 2013<ref name=":2" />
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-7.svg|65x65px]]
|[[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
|Indian Air Force
|11 June 2019<ref name=":2" />
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Indian_IAF_OF-8.svg|65x65px]]
|[[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
|Indian Air Force
|1 December 2022 (AOC-in-C from 1 October 2024)<ref name=":2" />
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief <br>Eastern Air Command]]
| years = 1 October 2024 – 31 January 2026
| before = [[Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar]]
| after = [[Inderpal Singh Walia]]
}}
{{Succession box
| title = Director General Air Operations
| years = 1 January 2023 – 30 September 2024
| before = [[Pankaj Mohan Sinha]]
| after = [[Awadhesh Kumar Bharti]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Surat}}
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Surat Singh (air marshal) - Revision history

Vilianapcm: Started new biography...