Group Captain Bharat Kumar (5787) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Flying Branch in December, 1959. Since then he has had a long tenure of 20 years on active flying duties. During this period he flew a variety of operational aircraft and held diverse supervisory and command appointments. He successfully completed the Fighter Combat Leader Course in 1975. Later, he commanded a Type 77 Squadron with distinction.

In August 81, Group Captain Bharat Kumar was posted as Base Commander at one of FBSUs (the Forward Base Support Unit). This Base serves as Armament Practice Camp and affords support services to visiting detachments akin to those provided at a fullfledged Wing. Group Captain Bharat Kumar marshaled and utilized the comparatively maegre resources at his command so that all detachments were able to complete their assigned tasks. During 1981-82 the Base was active on 240 days. Throughout, there was not even one occasion when flying operations were held up due to lack of admin, maintenance or operational support. Besides this, the operational preparedness of the Base to undertake operations during hostilities was also maintained at a high pitch.

In the field of administration, the performance of Group Captain Bharat Kumar has been commendable. The FBSU in a desert terrain where weather is hostile and living conditions are tough. He brought about remarkable improvements in provision of amenities for the personnel of Station and ensured that morale of personnel was very high at all times. In financial management, the performance of the Base has been noteworthy and the number of outstanding audit objections have been brought to nearly zero. Under his able leadership, non­public funds have shown a healthy growth.

The responsibility of providing admin support as well for overseeing the conduct of various trials at Pokhran Range has been entrusted to the Officer Commanding of the FBSU. A large number of service and civilian dignitaries including foreigners visit Pokhran Range to witness the trials. Group Captain Bharat Kumar marshaled his meager resources and ensured an exemplary support and proper conduct of these trials. His meticulous planning and foresight was especially evident during SARI-V trials conducted in November, 1982 and trials to assess the efficacy of Runway Rehabilitation Scheme in January, 1983.

Group Captain Bharat Kumar has brought about tangible and remarkably effective all round improvement in day­to­day working conditions and in overall operational preparedness of the Base. By his laudable initiative, outstanding devotion to service, resourcefulness, motivation and qualities of leadership, Group Captain Bharat Kumar has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal Bharat Kumar, AVSM was commissioned as Fighter Pilot on 19 Dec 59. He is a Fighter Combat Leader and has flown practically all-fighter aircraft presently on the inventory of the IAF including Mirage 2000 and MiG-29. He actively participated in IndoPak conflicts of 1965 and 1971. The Air Officer has commanded with distinction a premier fighter squadron and two operational fighter bases including Air Force Station Gwalior, where Mirage 2000 aircraft are based. He was awarded AVSM in 1984. A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, the Air Officer is one of the very few Indian officers who have undergone General Staff Course at Vorshilov General Staff Academy, Moscow. He has held many staff assignments both at Command and Air HQ and in these appointments, his performance has been creditable. The more noteworthy of these appointments have been as Director Plans and Director Operations (Aircraft Induction) at Air Headquarters, during which most of the modern aircraft in the inventory of the IAF were smoothly inducted into the IAF. On promotion to the rank of Air Mshl, he successfully held the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer of South Western Air Command wherein he provided fresh impetus to the operational plans, their modes of implementation and training for the same. The Air Officer presently holds the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command. In this appointment he brings to bear his vast operational and staff experience in enhancing the capabilities of operational preparedness of this Command.

Air Marshal Bharat Kumar, AVSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.