New Delhi: Air Marshal Vikram Gaur has made history by becoming the first officer from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence. The appointment, announced on October 27, 2026, marks a significant milestone in the representation of the Air Force in the department responsible for advancing jointness and integration among the three armed services.
An accomplished fighter pilot with more than three decades of service, Air Marshal Gaur has held several important positions, including Joint Secretary (Air and Staff Duties) in the Department of Military Affairs and Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. His operational experience includes participation in Operation Safed Sagar during the 1999 Kargil conflict, while his flying career spans more than 3,200 hours across different fighter aircraft, including the Su-30MKI.
His appointment brings extensive operational flying experience, command exposure and knowledge of airpower planning to a department central to India’s military integration initiatives.
Who Is Air Marshal Vikram Gaur?
Air Marshal Vikram Gaur is a senior Indian Air Force officer and fighter pilot who was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF’s Flying Branch on December 15, 1990. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy’s 77th course, he subsequently graduated from the Defence Services Staff College, an institution that prepares officers for higher-level command and staff responsibilities.
Over the course of his career, Gaur has combined operational flying with command, instructional and strategic assignments. He has qualified on four types of fighter aircraft and served as a Qualified Flying Instructor and Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner. He has also been cleared for low-level aerobatics on the Su-30MKI.
His professional experience includes fighter squadron command, operational planning at Western Air Command, assignments at Air Headquarters, overseas defence representation and senior operational responsibilities in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
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Participation in Operation Safed Sagar
One of the significant operational experiences in Gaur’s career was his participation in Operation Safed Sagar during the 1999 Kargil conflict. The Indian Air Force conducted the operation to support Indian Army operations against Pakistani forces occupying high-altitude positions along the Line of Control.
The operation demonstrated the importance of airpower in difficult mountainous terrain, where altitude, weather and operational constraints posed major challenges. Gaur’s participation in the campaign formed part of his early operational experience as a fighter pilot.
Across his career, he accumulated more than 3,200 hours of flying and became qualified on four types of fighter aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, one of the IAF’s principal multirole combat aircraft.
Commanding a Frontline Su-30MKI Squadron
Between 2008 and 2010, Gaur commanded a frontline Su-30MKI fighter squadron as a Wing Commander. During his tenure, the unit developed into the first type-training squadron for the Su-30MKI in the Indian Air Force.
The squadron achieved high training and operational standards and trained more than 100 aircrew while maintaining an exemplary flight-safety record, according to his service profile.
Gaur’s responsibilities extended beyond routine squadron operations. Under his command, the unit formulated standard operating procedures, conducted its first weapons camp and field-tested the range of air-to-ground weaponry available for the Su-30MKI. These activities contributed to establishing operational procedures and training practices for the aircraft.
The assignment reflected his experience in combining frontline flying, weapons employment, aircrew training and operational preparedness.
Key Role in Aerial Warfare Planning
After his squadron command, Gaur took on important operational-planning responsibilities at Headquarters Western Air Command. In March 2011, he was appointed leader of the Command Air Tasking and Strike Planning for Aerial Warfare (CATSPAW) team and also served in an operations role.
His work involved planning and conducting command-level exercises, improving operational preparedness and strengthening coordination between the Air Force and affiliated Army commands.
During this period, he helped conceptualise and conduct a table-top exercise called Indian Checkers. He also planned and conducted the Gauntlet-V and Gauntlet-VI exercises.
His responsibilities included improving targeting approaches, integrating air and land operations and strengthening coordination with the Army. He was also involved in advancing the Air Operations System and its integration with the Integrated Command Air Tasking System.
These assignments gave him experience in the complex planning processes that underpin modern aerial warfare, including the coordination of aircraft, targets, operational requirements and joint military activities.
Overseas Assignment as Air Attaché in Kabul
Gaur’s career also included an overseas diplomatic assignment. From 2015 to 2018, he served as Air Attaché at the Embassy of India in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The position involved representing the Indian Air Force in a foreign mission and supporting defence-related engagement. The assignment broadened his experience beyond operational flying and command, exposing him to the diplomatic and international dimensions of military cooperation.
He also commanded No. 40 Wing at Air Force Station Maharajpur in Gwalior, adding base-level operational leadership to his professional experience.
At Air Headquarters, he handled important staff responsibilities, including work related to Air Staff Requirements and C4ISR systems—command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. These areas are crucial to operational planning, situational awareness and the integration of information across military platforms.
Air Officer Commanding in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Gaur assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in December 2023, serving in the position until October 2024, according to the supplied service profile.
The region presents demanding operational conditions because of its high-altitude terrain, sensitive borders and complex security environment. Air operations in such areas require close attention to terrain, weather, logistics, readiness and coordination with other military formations.
His tenure in the region added senior operational command experience to his record before he moved into the Department of Military Affairs.
From Joint Secretary to Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs
In October 2024, Gaur moved to the Department of Military Affairs as Joint Secretary (Air and Staff Duties). He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on July 1, 2026.
On October 27, 2026, he was appointed Additional Secretary in the same department, becoming the first Indian Air Force officer to hold the position.
The Department of Military Affairs functions under the Ministry of Defence and plays an important role in promoting jointness among the Army, Navy and Air Force. Its responsibilities include matters relating to the armed forces, joint planning and training, and initiatives intended to improve coordination across the services.
The appointment is significant because the department’s work requires perspectives from all three services. Gaur’s experience in air operations, staff planning, command and inter-service coordination is relevant to its broader mandate.
His new assignment comes as India’s armed forces continue to pursue greater integration in operational planning, training, capability development and procurement. Jointness is intended to improve coordination, reduce duplication and ensure that the three services can operate more effectively together.
Military Awards and Honours
Gaur’s service has been recognised through military commendations and presidential honours.
In 2003, he received a Chief of the Air Staff Commendation in recognition of his service.
On January 26, 2013, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for distinguished service of a high order. He later received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on January 26, 2021, in recognition of exceptionally distinguished service.
These honours recognise his contributions over a career spanning operational flying, squadron command, air warfare planning and senior staff assignments.
A Milestone for the Indian Air Force
Air Marshal Vikram Gaur’s appointment as Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs marks an important development in the senior-level representation of the Indian Air Force within the Ministry of Defence’s military affairs structure.
His career has taken him from frontline fighter operations and participation in the Kargil conflict to squadron command, air warfare planning, overseas defence representation and senior operational leadership in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
With more than 3,200 flying hours and experience across a wide range of command and staff appointments, Gaur brings an operational Air Force perspective to a department tasked with strengthening coordination and integration among India’s three armed services.
His appointment is therefore notable not only as a first for the IAF, but also as a reflection of the importance of incorporating the experience of all three services into the country’s evolving approach to joint military affairs.
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