Wing Commander Shanti Swarup Gupta was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in Nov 62. He has held a number of appointments in the field and Base Repair Depot as well as at Headquarters. He did his Post Graduation from Cranfield (UK) in Materials and secured first position. He also served as a purchase member on Indian Supply Mission in London in Feb to Aug 1977.

Because of his hard work, wide ranging knowledge and in depth examination of technical problems he has been a prime contributor towards achieving a very high standard of maintenance and serviceability of aircraft and support services at one of the stations. Inspired by his selfless dedication and personal guidance, the technical staff has succeeded in installing an Audio-visual remotely controlled warning system for Runway crossing, Zero-indicator Test Rig, Generator Control Unit and repairing Canberra Main wheel hubs and Avro's Servo Motor Mounting brackets R.C.

For his dedicated work at a Base Repair Depot he was commended by the Chief of Air Staff in 1972.

By his exceptional devotion to duty, dedicated hard work and sound professional knowledge, Wing Commander Gupta has been able to achieve outstanding results in the serviceability and maintenance of both Canberra and Avro aircraft based at the station and thus contributed to increasing operational potential of the Squadron. For his outstanding contribution, Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wing Commander Shanti Swarup Gupta.

Air Marshal SS Gupta, VSM was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering branch of the IAF on 11 Nov 62. In 1973 he acquired post graduate degree in Material Sciences from Cranfield (UK), He was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal in Jan 1982. He was instrumental in providing timely Mi-17 helicopter support for operations in Siachin Glacier in 1985.

The Air Officer was appointed Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, HQ South Western Air Command in Apr 94. He planned and conducted workshops on Missiles, Communication and Radar equipment, and different types of aircraft. This has led to significant improvements in the reliability and maintainability of these systems. His key thrust area has been the indigenisation of spares and maintenance facilities to achieve selfreliance. He encouraged the field units to innovate and rely more on the local markets for procurement and repair of equipment and share the information. This has accrued significant savings.

He established a Wide Area Computer Network which helped to streamline data transfer and obtain quicker response. Coupled with this, Technical Stores Movement Cell was formed, which was tasked to track all critical spares affecting aircraft serviceability. These measures have markedly improved serviceability of Combat fleet.

Air Marshal Shanti Swaroop Gupta has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal Shanti Swaroop Gupta AVSM VSM took over as the Air Officer Commandingin-Chief of Maintenance Command on 01 Aug 97. Within a short span of time after taking over, with his dynamism and vision, he transformed the entire work culture of Maintenance Command. All the BRDs and Equipment Depots have been connected to Command HQ through modems. Exchange of information about the inventory, which runs into several lakhs, is now being done on computers. Similarly, the information on items which have been indigenised was compiled from various agencies and the Command now has records of more than 1.7 lakhs such items. Establishment of a huge data base and quick transfer of information has been of immense help in executive decision making. This resulted in reduction of inventory levels and a large inventory which was non-moving started moving. Effective utilisation of procurement powers in respect of decentralised ranges consisting of HPT32, Kiran, Dornier aircraft, Cheetah/Chetak helicopters, Clothing and MT, has resulted in reduction of stock holdings and cash out flows annually, besides ensuring high level of availability of items.

A cell was formed at HQ Maintenance Command for monitoring and reducing the outstanding AOGs. This Cell has made very significant achievements, as the complete procedures for meeting the AOG demands were revised and streamlined. A regular feed back is now given to operational commands on the status of their outstanding demands. Concept of Base Repair Depot acting as Mother Depot has been implemented in letter and spirit.

A number of studies were carried out under the guidance of Air Mshl Gupta which have resulted in savings amounting to millions of dollars which otherwise would have had to be paid to the foreign vendors. These include studies on life extension of AN-32 and MiG-29 aircraft indigenously.

Since import of spares from abroad is becoming costlier and also in some cases these items were not available, he launched a major drive for indigenization of spares. This programme included holding of seminars and exhibitions with the help of Confederation of Indian Industries to encourage the entrepreneurs to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force indigenously. He also undertook programmes for modernization of infrastructure at the BRDs, so that many of the sample spares required could be manufactured at the Depots. As a result of these measures more than one thousand items our of approximately 2000 required for overhaul of bare airframe of MiG-29 aircraft have been indigenized.

Air Marshal Shanti Swaroop Gupta AVSM VSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.