Air Commodore Achuthan Viswanathan (3607) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1949. During his long service career, he has held with distinction various important appointments. He has been Officer Commanding of an Equipment Depot, Deputy Director of Armament Research & Development Establishment and Director of Armament at Air Headquarters.

As Director of Armament, he has achieved most commendable results in indigenisation of imported Explosives Stores and also in adaptation of Armament Stores to different types of aircraft. This, besides achieving standardisation, has resulted in increasing operational potential. He has persistently striven to get maximum shelf life out of explosive stores currently held in the inventory by planning and executing various reconditioning schemes. By his constant endeavour for indigenisation of imported stores and to obtain maximum life out of the existing stores, he has not only effected considerable savings in expenditure but also reduced foreign dependence.

Air Commodore Viswanathan was posted as Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at Headquarters Eastern Air Command in September, 1974. From the time of his arrival and consistently thereafter, he applied himself with exemplary zeal and has shouldered the responsibility with a high degree of confidence. With his initiative and ability to organize, and with his high technical ability he contributed substantially towards improving the aircraft serviceability and operational potential. During this period, a number of aircraft which had been grounded for over two years have been recovered and made air­worthy. He was never deterred in his objective by short-fall of resources available to him.

With his exceptional professional ability, hard work, organizational skill, and leadership, Air Commodore Achuthan Viswanathan has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Achutha Viswanathan was commissioned in 1949 in the Technical Armament Branch of the Air Force. During his service career he has held several important staff appointments with distinction. As Director of Armament with his flair for design and development work, he achieved commendable results in the indigenisation of explosive stores and development of a rocket system. He has also helped in successfully completing a number of development projects. By his constant endeavour for indigenistion, he has effected considerable savings in foreign exchange and reduced dependence on foreign aid. As Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command, he was instrumental in achieving substantial improvement in aircraft serviceability by his initiative and guidance for which he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1976.

As Air Officer Engineering and Systems of Maintenance Command, he introduced a number of new measures of quality control which paid dividends and improved the overall production capability of the Base Repair Depots. By his relentless efforts and perseverance he has succeeded in augmenting the production substantially at the Base Repair Depots.

Air Vice Marshal Achutha Viswanathan has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.