Service No & Branch | 10440 F(P) (Orig: GD(P)) | Stream :Fighters | ![]() | ||||||||||||
Date of Birth: -- --- ---- | Commissioned: 29 Oct 1966 | Course: 96 Course | |||||||||||||
Service End: | Retired on 31 Oct 2006 Superannuated | Nick Name : | |||||||||||||
Qualifications Held : | |||||||||||||||
Remarks : | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Badges Qualified ![]() | |||||||||||||||
Google the Bharat Rakshak Website for : "A Bhavnani" |
![]() Wg Cdr | ![]() Air Cmde | ![]() Air Mshl |
Dates | Rank | Unit | Location | Appointment | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 Oct 1966 - 01 May 1967 | Plt Offr | No.220 Squadron | Pune | Squadron Pilot | |
01 Mar 1967 - 31 Dec 1967 | Fg Offr | Operational Training Unit | Jamnagar | Conversion | |
01 Jan 1968 - 31 Dec 1968 | Fg Offr | No.14 Squadron | Kalaikunda | Squadron Pilot | |
01 Jan 1969 - 01 Jul 1972 | Fg Offr | No.4 Squadron | Squadron Pilot | ||
01 Jul 1972 - 01 Aug 1974 | Flt Lt | No.45 Squadron | Squadron Pilot | ||
01 Aug 1974 - 01 Jul 1976 | Flt Lt | No.28 Squadron | Squadron Pilot | ||
01 Nov 1976 - 01 Oct 1978 | Flt Lt | Tactics and Combat Development Establishment | Jamnagar | Directing Staff | |
01 Nov 1978 - 31 Dec 1980 | Sqn Ldr | Iraq AF | Iraq | Flying Instructor | |
01 Dec 1981 - 01 May 1993 | Sqn Ldr | No.37 Squadron | Flight Commander | ||
01 May 1983 - 01 Oct 1984 | Wg Cdr | Defence Services Staff College | Wellington | Directing Staff | |
01 Nov 1984 - 01 Jun 1985 | Wg Cdr | France | Mirage Team Leader | ||
29 Jun 1985 - 22 Jun 1987 | Wg Cdr | No.7 Squadron | Gwalior | Commanding Officer | |
01 Jul 1987 - 31 Dec 1988 | Wg Cdr | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Deputy Director (Air Defence) | |
01 Feb 1989 - 21 Jan 1992 | Gp Capt | Tactics and Combat Development Establishment | Jamnagar | Commandant | |
01 Mar 1992 - 01 Jul 1993 | Gp Capt | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | JDPO | |
01 Aug 1993 - 30 Sep 1996 | Gp Capt | Embassy of India, Sweden | Stockholm | Defence Attache | |
01 Oct 1996 - 31 Dec 1996 | Air Cmde | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Director, Offensive Operations | |
12 Jan 1997 - 29 Mar 1998 | Air Cmde | 40 Wing | Maharajpur (Gwalior) | Air Officer Commanding | |
30 Mar 1998 - 01 Nov 2000 | Air Cmde | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Air Assistant to Chief of Air Staff | |
01 Aug 2000 - 31 Oct 2002 | AVM | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Personnel Officers | |
01 Nov 2002 - 31 Jan 2003 | Air Marshal | Eastern Air Command | Shillong | Senior Air Staff Officer | |
01 Feb 2003 - 03 Jul 2004 | Air Marshal | Central Air Command | Allahabad | Senior Air Staff Officer | |
12 Jul 2004 - 18 Aug 2005 | Air Marshal | Strategic Forces Command | Delhi | Commander in Chief | |
22 Aug 2005 - 31 Oct 2006 | Air Marshal | PSO: Operations, Air HQ | Delhi | Vice Chief of Air Staff | |
Incomplete Information? Additions? Corrections? Please download Template File and follow instructions. |
Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Wg Cdr | Ajit Bhavnani | 10440 F(P) | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 1987 |
Details : | ![]() Wing Commander Ajit Bhavnani has been posted as Commanding Officer of a premier frontline squadron since 28 Jan 85. As Commanding Officer of the first Vajra squadron of the IAF, his performance has been truly outstanding. Having successfully led the team of Vajra pilots trained in France, he achieved the rare distinction of planning and successfully leading the first ferry of seven Vajra aircraft from France to India. Subsequently, he was involved in the successful ferry of three more batches of Vajra aircraft flown in by his squadron. Having assumed command of his squadron, he shou ldered the major responsibility of forming the squadron and inducting a very modern and sophisticated aircraft into the IAF. With his outstanding professional ability, he performed the arduous task in the most methodical and distinctive manner. Overcoming all the initial hurdles, he organized the available resources to build his unit into a highly operational and efficient outfit within a very short period of time. Despite severe handicaps of shortage of manpower and equipment, he motivated his squadron personnel exceptionally well which resulted in heavy flying activity. Working relentlessly, he ushered in a new era of concepts and tactics related to fighter operations. His selfless devotion to work has been an exemplary source of inspiration and motivation for his personnel. Due to his deep personal involvement and exceptionally high level of professional competence, the entire Vajra force has reached a distinctively high level of operational efficiency. As Commanding Officer, he has displayed an exceptional high level of professional skill. For his outstanding achievements as Commanding Officer of the first Vajra Squadron, the President is pleased to award Vayu Seva medal to Wing Commander Ajit Bhavnani. | |||
Unit : 7 Sqn | ||||
Reference : Gazette of India dated 25th April 1987 - No.37-Pres/87 dated 26th January 1987 |
Ati Vishist Seva Medal | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Gp Capt | Ajit Bhavnani | 10440 F(P) | Award Date 26 Jan 1991 | Announced 26 Jan 1991 |
Details : | Group Captain Ajit Bhavnani has been in command of Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment since the 1st February, 1989. He was instrumental in bringing about major changes in the training curriculum of TACDE. The FCL course which had remained unchanged since its inception in 1973, was divided into specific streams for Fighter Combat Loaders and Fighter Strike Loaders. With the fast changing air environment and with the induction of sophisticated role dedicated combat aircraft, the IAF needed to channelise its combat training towards specialist role orientation. Additionally, for the very first time in the IAF, courses for fighter controllers were introduced. This significant increase in the content and versatility of training task at TACDE necessitated major changes in the training programme and syllabi. With minimal additional resources, these changes were successfully brought about in a highly professional and disciplined manner, under the able guidance and direction of Group Captain Ajit Bhavnani. The officer has further initiated a series of innovative and urgent steps to redefine functioning of TACDE at appropriate levels. As a result of these steps, TACDE has been involved at various levels of lAF's operational functioning. At the field level, his team has interacted regularly with combat pilots and controllers, visiting all fighter bases and disseminating latest tactics, techniques and procedures which have recently been developed by TACDE. Greater emphasis on development tasks has been a hallmark of TACDE's recent achievements. At the planning level, they have been involved in providing guidelines for the operational plans at the Command Headquarters and at important forums. Group Captain Ajit Bhavnani, VM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order. | |||
Unit : | ||||
Reference : GoI19910126 |
Param Vishist Seva Medal | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Air Marshal | Ajit Bhavnani | 10440 F(P) | Award Date 26 Jan 2005 | Announced 26 Jan 2005 |
Details : | ![]() Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani AVSM VM (10440) F(P) was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 29 October 1966. During his distinguished service of 40 years he has held a wide range of important operational and staff appointments which include Defence Attaché to Sweden, Commanding Officer of a premier Air Force base, Director of Offensive Operations, Air Advisor to the CAS and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers). He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, where he served as an Instructor. He has flown a large number of combat aircraft in the lAF's inventory, and has also gained proficiency in flying helicopters and transport aircraft. Since the early years of his service, his exceptional flying skills and disciplined approach were recognized at every level. During the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, he flew 22 operational missions on MiG-21 aircraft into enemy territory, thereby making a significant contribution to the war effort. For his dedicated efforts and high level of professional skills, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 1987 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1991. In 1984, Air Marshal Bhavnani was selected to lead the IAF team to France to fly the newly acquired state-of-the-art, Mirage 2000 aircraft. On return, he commanded the Battle Axes Squadron and equipped it with the new aircraft and was responsible for laying a strong foundation for the lAF's Mirage fleet. During his tenure as Commanding Officer of prestigious Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), he introduced a wide range of changes in the curriculum, leading to significant improvements in lAF's combat skills and orientation. As SASO HQ CAC, sustained efforts made by Air Marshal Bhavnani ensured successful induction and operationalisation of the newly acquired Flight Refueling Aircraft, 1L-78. In February 2003 he successfully coordinated the first ever Indo-French combat exercise held at Gwalior, involving modern combat aircraft. Later, he also successfully handled the task of planning and conducting the first Indo-US air combat exercise at Gwalior in October 2003. His meticulous preparation and expert professional guidance resulted in the successful conduct of this exercise, which brought in extraordinary accolades from the US Air Force. In his present assignment as Commanderin-Chief of the Strategic Forces Command, Air Marshal Bhavnani has initiated several important measures to optimize the integration of forces and command and control of the strategic systems with a view to increase the operational potential of the Strategic Forces. Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani AVSM VM has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order. | |||
Unit : SFC | ||||
Reference : GoI20050126 |
Date | Aircraft Type | Tail No | Pilot/Crew | Unit | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 Mar 1971 | MiG-21 FL | Flt Lt Ajit Bhavnani | 4 Sqn | DNE. LL Sortie, Bird |