Wing Commander Kuldip Singh Bhatia was commissioned in the Technical Branch of the Indian Air Force in August, 1951. He attended Post Graduate Course abroad and also the Defence Services Staff College Course in India. After holding a variety of appointments at units, he was posted to a staff appointment at Air Headquarters. When Air Headquarters took up planning of a modern Air Defence Ground Environment System for India, he was selected to lead a team of officers to undertake this commitment. In this challenging task, he brought into play his varied experience and deep technical knowledge.

Under his able leadership and guidance, this planning team formulated the technical specifications of the Radar and Communication System required to meet the operational req­ AVSM 1973 uirements. On more than one occasion, he was deputed as Member of technical teams visiting factories abroad for the purpose of evaluating and selecting equipment required by the Air Force.

Throughout, Wing Commander Kuldip Singh Bhatia has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Kuldip Singh Bhatia, AVSM, Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) was commissioned in 1951 and has served in the Indian Air Force with distinction, ability and devotion to duty. In 1973, he was awarded AVSM for successful planning of systems design of a highly advanced communication system and Air Defence Ground Environ mental system for the Air Force.

Air Commodore K.S. Bhatia was selected for a highly specialised assignment abroad because of his exceptional expertise and achievements in planning systems. He enhanced the prestige of the Air Force by his contribution to the work of the National Radar Council, where he was called upon to head a number of important working groups with many eminent scientists as members. In 1978, though this Officer belonged to electronic stream, be was posted as Chief Engineering Officer of an operational base. He showed his exceptional ability by combining his technical skill and managerial ability and achieved a high rate of serviceability of all the Squadrons on the station on a particular day.

In 1979, he was posted to command one of the Base Repair Depots. This officer with his exceptional qualities, high level technical skill and leadership, completed the task of the Depot allotted for the year. For this achievement, the Repair Depot was awarded the 'Best BRD Trophy' for 1979-80.

During 1980 the Depot was given a challenging commitment of setting up of the Repair and Overhaul task of a new missile system. This task was completed ahead of schedule and in the very first year, one complete major overhaul was carried out on one of the systems, without upsetting the other tasks. As a result, the depot was awarded for a second time the “Best BRD Trophy" for 1980-81.

Air Commodore Kuldip Singh Bhatia has continued to achieve most outstanding results of great value to the Air Force in the various assignments given to him and has shown dynamism, tenacity and high degree of leadership. He has become a source of inspiration and an example for technical officers.

Air Commodore Kuldip Singh Bhatia, AVSM, has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal Kuldip Singh Bhatia was commissioned in the Technical Branch of the Indian Air Force in 1951. He has held a wide variety of Command and Staff assignments during his long and meritorious service in the Air Force and has distinguished himself by rare professional competence and outstanding administrative ability.

The important Staff/Command appointments held by him include that of Chief Engineering Officer of a major Fighter station. In recognition of his exceptional ability to combine technical with managerial competence, he was subsequently given Command of an important Base Repair Depot. As the BRD Commander he accomplished all tasks ahead of schedule.

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal in February 1985, he took over as the Project Director of Radar and Communication Project Organisation. As a competent Technical Officer and a versatile field engineer, he has displayed a high degree of initiative in planning and installation of the trope, microwave and radar facilities. Thus he has been instrumental in significantly enhancing Air Defence Ground Environment capabilities of the IAF. His selfless devotion to duty has earned him the admiration and respect of the personnel who have had to perform field tasks even in remote and inaccessible mountainous terrain.

Air Marshal Kuldip Singh Bhatia AVSM & Bar has, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.