Wing Commander Satinder Jit Singh (4554) was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the Indian Air Force in September, 1953. He has commanded two Signal Units with distinction.

In February, 1971, he was posted as the Officer Commanding of a Base Repair Depot on its formation. The unit was initially engaged in receipt of foreign equipment, storage at site, and installation of equipment in technical accommodation without mechanical handling facilities and with very limited manual labour. Wing Commander Singh, by personal example and initiative, completed the installation task on schedule.

During the training and repair task Wing Commander Singh had to start the functional Wing without an adequate establishment and with only partially completed works. He had to work within a very tight time frame. During this period, with many handicaps such as the lack of technological facilities and shortage of manpower, he managed to complete the production task allotted to him and also the training of technical personnel in new and complex process and techniques. It is to his credit that the many complex repair lines of the depot were brought into comm ission during this short period. He took considerable initiative in improvisation whenever lack of facilities hindered the task. With his personal drive, initiative and professional knowledge, he was able to acquire indigenous components and substitutes whenever such components had not materialized through imports.

Wing Commander Satinder Jit Singh is awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service of a high order.

Squadron Leader Rangasamudram Kylasam Sekar has been on the posted strength of Area Maintenance Support facility Centre Electronics Standards and Calibration Laboratory since 06 August 1983.

During the mid 1987 period, when the political situation in southern region required availability of full transport aircraft fleet, the IAF was faced with a serious problem of unserviceabiilty of an electronics switching unit BK- 4 used in cockpit warning system of Sutluj aircraft. As a result large number of aircraft were non operational. The factory level repair facilities for this unit were not set up in India till then all unserviceable items were being sent to the manufacturers for repairs.

Sqn Ldr Sekar using his exceptional knowledge of modern electronics developed the detailed repair techniques and fabricated Simulator for functional testing. Thereafter, he started repairing the BK-4 units and within one month repaired all units thereby significantly improving the fleet serviceability.

Sqn Ldr Sekar, after successfully completing the repairs of critically needed BK-4 units, was tasked to set up repair facilities for number of other electronic systems of Sutluj and Gajraj aircraft.

For his outstanding contribution to service, initiative and displayed of exceptional technical skills, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Sqn Ldr Rangasamudram Kylasam Sekar.

Air Cmde Surjit Krishan Sharma (10829) AE (L) is posted as Air Officer Commanding, AMSE since 09 December 96.

While controlling one of the most prestigious organisations of Air Force, he has always given priority to the operational requirements of Air Defence, Radar and Communication units so as to ensure maximum users satisfaction.

The Air Officer volunteered to increase the task assigned for production year 97-98 by 12% and finally achieved about 14% more than the revised tasks. In addition to accepting and executing many challenging tasks under his efficient leadership, the unit carried out many innovations/modifications like repair of Klystrons of tropo equipment, Sigma milking equipment, aircraft fuel impurity testers, turbo chargers, besides setting up testing facilities for compressors and alternators. To substitute many short supplied imported items, he produced them indigenously at much lower cost. These not only resulted in substantial revenue saving last year but also reduced down period of the vital air defence equipment.

The Air Officer introduced various welfare measures such as provisioning clinical test facilities and equipment for physiotherapy in Station Sick Quarters, traffic training park and computer education in Air Force School, modern facilities in messes, billets and recreational hall etc. which have improved working and social environment.

Highly experienced in computer field, the Air Officer has held many important assignments in past 15 years. With his untiring efforts, time-bound objective and aim of excellence and standardisation, AMSE has been awarded ISO-9002 in Feb 97.

For his leadership, professionalism, and distinguished service of an exceptional order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Air Cmde SK Sharma.

Flight Lieutenant Krishnan Sendhil Kumar (24413) AE (L) was commissioned in the IAF on 26 Nov 1996. He has held the appointment of Officer-in-Charge Daily Servicing State (DSS) in a MiG-29 Sqn.

Presently the MiG-29 fleet of IAF utilises the AGASTI equipment for flight data acquisition and analysis. This system has outdated hardware and does not have automated analysis of aware resulting in time consuming manual analysis using graphical print out. Flt Lt Kumar recognised the shortcomings of the existing system and conceived the preliminary design of a novel Flight Data Acquisition and Analysis System (FDAAS) during his training at MiG-29 Technical Type Training (TETTRA) School at Pune. Based on the success of this preliminary design, Air HQ decided to develop a prototype. While on the posted strength of AMSE, AF he developed the prototype using the latest hardware technology and with advanced software features like automated GO-NO-GO feature and 3D aircraft simula tion to help the maintenance and operational staff in better utilisation of the aircraft. The prototype developed by him consists of four equipment and costs only Rs. 4.5 lacs as against the earlier system with three equip ment costing Rs. 12 lacs. Thus the system developed by the officer has resulted in a saving of about 70%. The prototype has successfully completed all initial development trials and bulk order for entire MIG-29 fleet is shortly expected.

During the same period, Flt Lt Kumar also took on the additional task of developing the software for Total Technical Life Extension Data Base Management system of the MiG29 as required at a BRD of AF. He also completed software development of Header Editor and computerised SARPP film analysis software, both of which involved extremely complex coding.

For distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Flight Lieutenant Krishnan Sendhil Kumar.