Air Marshal PV Shivanand Takes Charge of SWAC Operations
Air Marshal Shivanand Has Logged Over 2,800 Flying Hours On Major IAF Platforms
Air Marshal PV Shivanand AVSM VM assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force’s South Western Air Command (SWAC) on 1 July 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Tejinder Singh PVSM AVSM VM, who has moved to Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Soon after taking charge, Air Marshal Shivanand paid tribute to fallen personnel at the South Western Air Command War Memorial, continuing a long-standing military tradition observed during changes in senior command appointments.
Headquartered at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, the South Western Air Command is one of the Indian Air Force’s five operational commands. It is responsible for air operations and air defence across a large part of western India, covering Rajasthan, Gujarat, the Kutch region and areas extending towards Maharashtra. The command also oversees several important air bases and forward operating locations that support India’s western air defence posture and maritime security responsibilities over the Arabian Sea.
The command was established in 1980 and later shifted its headquarters to Gandhinagar in 1998 as the Indian Air Force expanded its operational footprint in western India. Over the years, the command has played important roles in military operations, disaster relief missions and humanitarian assistance efforts.
Air Marshal Shivanand was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1988 after graduating from the National Defence Academy. During a career spanning nearly four decades, he has accumulated more than 2,800 flying hours on the MiG-21 fighter aircraft and the IL-76 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, commonly known as AWACS.
The MiG-21 has served as one of the Indian Air Force’s most widely operated fighter aircraft for decades, while the IL-76 AWACS fleet performs a different but equally important role by providing airborne surveillance, early warning and command-and-control capabilities during military operations. Experience on both platforms reflects a career that has covered fighter operations as well as modern network-based air warfare.
The Air Marshal is also an alumnus of the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment and the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, two institutions that prepare officers for higher operational and strategic responsibilities.
Throughout his service, Air Marshal Shivanand has held several command and staff appointments in India and overseas. His international experience includes serving as Defence and Air Attaché at the Embassy of India in Washington DC in the United States, with concurrent accreditation to Canada. Such assignments are considered important diplomatic roles as they support military cooperation, defence exchanges and strategic engagement between partner countries.
Within the Indian Air Force, he commanded two frontline fighter squadrons and later led a major air base in the eastern sector. He also served in operational and planning roles at both Air Headquarters and South Western Air Command headquarters, working in areas related to air operations, air defence, airborne sensors and military networking systems.
According to the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Shivanand played a key role in bringing new operational platforms into service and advancing several air defence initiatives. These efforts contributed to stronger surveillance coverage and improvements in India’s integrated air defence architecture, which links radar systems, aircraft, ground stations and command centres to provide a common operational picture during peacetime and conflict.
Before assuming his new appointment, he served as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Central Air Command, one of the most senior operational positions within that command structure.
His predecessor, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, served as head of South Western Air Command before being appointed Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee. The position is considered significant within India’s military establishment because it supports coordination and planning among the Army, Navy and Air Force and contributes to the country’s ongoing efforts towards greater jointness among the armed services.
The leadership transition at South Western Air Command comes as the Indian Air Force continues to modernise its air defence systems and improve coordination between manned aircraft, airborne surveillance assets and network-based command systems. With extensive experience in fighter operations, airborne sensors and air defence planning, Air Marshal Shivanand now takes charge of a command that remains central to India’s security interests in the western region.
