Central Air Command (India)

Central Air Command (India)
Unit name	Central Air Command
Native name	केन्द्रीय वायु कमान
Caption	Crest of the Central Air Command
Dates	1962–present
Country	India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Type	Air command
Role	Air operations
Garrison	Prayagraj
Commander1	Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief

Central Air Command (India) Central Air Command is a major operational formation of the Indian Air Force responsible for aerial operations across central and eastern sectors of India. Established in response to regional tensions in the early 1960s, the command has participated in conflicts such as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and operations during the Kargil conflict, while contributing to peacetime tasks including humanitarian relief after the Bihar floods and support during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

History

Central Air Command traces its origins to force reorganisation following the Sino-Indian War and escalating tensions on the subcontinent, leading to its raising in 1962 with headquarters at Allahabad. Early years saw deployment during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and expansion through the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, where assets supported operations linked to Eastern Command (India) and Armed Forces (India). Post-1971, modernization efforts paralleled procurement from manufacturers such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Sukhoi suppliers, and collaboration with agencies like the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The command later contributed to multinational disaster relief coordination involving United Nations agencies and civilian authorities in responses to events like the Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan.

Organisation and units

The command comprises multiple groups and wings including fighter squadrons, transport units, and helicopter detachments under the authority of an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief reporting through the Air Headquarters (India). Key formations have included squadrons operating with ties to bases at Bareilly Air Force Station, Agra Air Force Station, and Srinagar Air Force Station elements during redeployments, while liaison occurs with formations such as Western Air Command and Eastern Air Command. Support units include maintenance depots linked to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and logistics coordination with the Indian Navy and Indian Army corps headquarters.

Roles and responsibilities

Central Air Command conducts air defence, close air support for Indian Army formations, interdiction missions, strategic airlift, and humanitarian assistance linked to civil authorities like National Disaster Management Authority. It provides airspace security coordination with agencies such as Directorate General of Civil Aviation and supports strategic logistics for formations operating in central sectors including coordination with South Western Air Command and Strategic Forces Command for specific tasks. Training and force readiness initiatives are conducted in partnership with institutions such as the National Defence Academy and College of Air Warfare.

Bases and infrastructure

Headquartered at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), the command's jurisdiction encompasses bases at stations including Bareilly Air Force Station, Agra Air Force Station, Kanpur Cantonment, and forward operating locations that interface with civil airports like Lucknow Airport and Varanasi Airport. Infrastructure upgrades have included runway enhancements tied to projects with Bharat Electronics Limited and expansions linked to the Make in India initiative. Air defence installations coordinate radar coverage with the Integrated Air Command and Control System and ground support with Central Command (India) elements.

Aircraft and equipment

Units under the command have operated aircraft types sourced from manufacturers such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Sukhoi, Dassault Aviation, and Boeing. Frontline platforms historically and currently include fighters, transports, and helicopters interoperable with systems like the Akash missile system and avionics supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited. The command fields transport aircraft for strategic lift similar to Ilyushin Il-76 operations, rotary-wing platforms akin to HAL Dhruv, and fighter types comparable to MiG-21 and modern multirole fighters procured under programmes involving the Ministry of Defence (India).

Commanders

The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief position has been held by senior officers drawn from Indian Air Force leadership who previously served at institutions including the Air Headquarters (India), the Western Air Command, and the Eastern Air Command. Notable commanders have progressed to roles within the Chief of the Air Staff cadre and have engaged in inter-service staff roles at establishments such as the Joint Forces Command and the National Security Council Secretariat.

Operations and exercises

Central Air Command has been active in major operations like the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and support during the Kargil conflict, and frequently participates in exercises with formations such as Exercise Gagan Shakti, Exercise Indradhanush, and bilateral drills involving foreign services like the United States Air Force and Royal Air Force. Humanitarian missions include coordinated relief during floods affecting Uttar Pradesh and interoperability exercises with agencies like the National Disaster Response Force and international partners via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Category:Commands of the Indian Air Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1962