Wg Cdr Simhakutty Varthaman was commissioned on 09 Feb 74. He is a qualified Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot and has more than 3000 hours of accident-free fighter flying to his credit.

He is qualified on MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27 aircraft. At the BRD, his task included duties of COO and air testing of aircraft produced after manufacture/overhaul/medium repair/ storage by HAL and BRD. He flew 667 accident free sorties amounting to 470 hours. He rendered valuable help in finalizing five major trials and modifications. Ozar complex consisting of HAL and the BRD has been designated as vital area in the Maharashtra Air Defence Sector of South Western Air Command. Three major Air Defence exercises were conducted at this base. During one of the exercises, Guided Weapons Squadrons were inducted for the first time. Wg Cdr Varthaman, with the help of a few technicians and one technical officer, established a Base Air Defence Centre (BADC) from scratch. He also established Operational Readiness Platform and allied communication system for the exercise. Several successful interceptions were carried out during the exercise.

For exceptional devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award Vayu Sena Medal to Wg Cdr S Varthaman.

Squadron Leader Bapu Raghavaendrarao Madhava Rao (5944) was commissioned in Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force in June, 1960. He was posted to a nucleus unit, which was set up to raise a new base repair depot for a supersonic fighter bomber aircraft in April, 1974. He was entrusted with the task of setting up facilities for the overhaul of 492 different types of rotables.

Having chalked out his plans to the last detail. Squadron Leader Rao started executing the task while the building construction and other civil engineering works were still in progress. In a record time of eight months, the rotables repair shops were ready for commissioning. When the nucleus unit was designated as a full-fledged base repair depot, the shops were already established to undertake internal and external repair tasks. This achievement enabled the depot to induct aircraft for overhaul within three months of its formation and to deliver the first over hauled aircraft to an operational squadron in less than seven months from the date of induction.

Subsequently, the rotables overhaul shops have fully met the requirement of other aircraft inducted for medium repair within an ambitious timeframe set for the assembly stage. Over and above meeting these commitments, the Depot made special efforts to clear 278 'Aircraft On Ground' demands of the operating squadrons with in the year 1975-76, although no firm task was placed on the Depot.

The contributions made by Squadron Leader (Now Wing Commander) Bapu Raghavendrarao Madhava Rao towards these achievements are commendable. For his professional competence, sincerity of purpose, loyalty to service and managerial ability, he is awarded Vishisht Seva Medal.

Wing Commander Madhukar Krishna Marathe was commissioned in the Air Force in April 1963. He has been trained aboard on fighter aircraft. Since then he has been associated with particular origin aircraft in one capacity or another. A graduate of Defence Service Staff College, he is a specialist on aircraft Electrical Systems.

Wing Commander MK Marathe was entrusted with the task of setting up of the facilities for the overhaul of over 400 rotables for a fighter type of aircraft. These notables forming part of the vital systems of the complicated supersonic aircraft required elaborate and expensive facilities. When the task was entrusted to Wg Cdr MK Marathe, not more than a few rotables could be overhauled by utilizing the existing facilities. By dint of technical expertise and perseverance, Wg Cdr MK Marathe had set up facilities for 400 different rotables during the course of the production year 1982-83. This significant technical achievement not only saved the country valuable Foreign Exchange but also helped in streamlining the overhaul line at the Base Repair Depot. The job involved ingenuity and technical competence of the highest order. By meeting the challenging assignment given to him, Wg Cdr Marathe was able to achieve more than the desired results in the given time frame.

For his technical competence, devotion to duty and ingenuity, the President as pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Madhukar Krishna Marathe.

Wg Cdr Balasubramaniam Shivakumar is on the posted strength of one of the Base Repair Depots of the IAF since 10 Oct 86. The officer has undergone training twice in USSR on MiG-23 variants.

On posting to BRD, Wg Cdr B Shivakumar was given the task of setting up of facilities for medium repair/overhaul of MiG-23 aircraft. During the construction stages, he suggested many changes to meet the requirements. As a result of his involvement, the aircraft production task could commence well in time.

On his return from USSR, the officer plunged into the task of medium and structural repair of damaged aircraft, he did not await the setting up of repair facilities or arrival of the Soviet specialists. His noteworthy achievements are retrieval of damaged aircraft, repair of jet nozzle contours, repair of MiG-29 drop tanks and development of a structural modification for the ventral fin of an aircraft.

Wg Cdr B Shivakumar was also involved in indigenisation/manufacturing of tools, testers and ground support equipment for which only drawings were provided by the manufacturers. In a short time he formulated syllabus and training aids for overhaul Training Flight. He trained maximum number of airmen to cope up with production task of the depot and set up repair facility in a record time. He also succeeded in achieving the completion of medium repair task during last three years despite non availability of works services and critical spares. This achievement is significant, because the first aircraft was produced one year ahead of schedule. He also completed the assigned task during 1988-90 and during 1990-91. He also completed cat 'B' repair on four aircraft during 1990-91.

For his professional skill, hard work and devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wg Cdr B Shivakumar.

Junior Warrant Officer Udai Vir Singh was enrolled as Workshop Fitter on 07 November 1964. While on the posted strength of a Base Repair Depot (BRD) he has been working in structural bay and has been leading repair parties to out-stations to carry out on site repairs to aircraft and make them airworthy.

He has acquired proficiency in structural repairs of MiG-23 aircraft. He also successfully carried out certain structural modifications on MiG-23BN aircraft to accommodate electronic equipment.

He has immensely contributed in the repair and recovery of an IL-76 aircraft stranded during December 1992. Though he had never worked on IL-76, with deep knowledge and experience on aircraft structures backed by his innate sense of duty he successfully repaired the honey comb portion of the starboard Flap Root End within four days, totally ignoring the inclement weather prevailing. He also replaced the top skin of Root End Tip of port wing covering the honey comb structure which required high professional skill and deft handling. He carried out the repair on yet another aircraft which had its outer skin and also the honey comb portion of the Port Flap Deflector damaged.

With his skill on repairs of any control surface of aircraft he has earned the reputation of a master craftsman on structural repairs.

For distinguished service of high order the President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Junior Warrant Officer Udai Vir Singh.

Air Commodore Thekkekara Thomas Job (11507) AE (M) is commanding a premier Base Repair Depot (BRD) for fighter aircraft.

The BRD was assigned the task of overhaul of a front line fighter aircraft. Due to disintegration of erstwhile USSR the project had got delayed. Spares were not forthcoming. There was considerable delay in arrival of equipment and specialists. Consequently, only one aircraft could be overhauled in 1997-98. A large number of aircraft started falling due for overhaul. Under the leadership of Air Cmde Job a life extension study was successfully carried out involving specialists/ scientists from Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautical Limited, NAL, IGCAR and RCMA (N). Consequently, the aircraft could be given a longer lease of life before overhaul, thereby preventing the possibility of sending the aircraft abroad for overhaul. This saved crores in foreign exchange.

Extension of life of aircraft was a shortterm solution. Therefore, Air Cmde Job took on the uphill task of fully setting up the overhaul facilities to enhance production of aircraft. He motivated a team of officers and men to install test equipment and rigs without the help of Russian Specialists. Consequently, the requirement for Russian Specialists reduced. He guided another group to successfully indigenise and produce spares. Consequently, six aircraft were overhauled in 1998-99. He simultaneously devoted considerable time and energy in improving quality of life in the Depot by introduction of a number of welfare measures. Under his able leadership, the Depot has won awards for best BRD, best MI Room and best Nursery School in Maintenance Command as well as best Nursery School in IAF.

For his exemplary vision, dedication and professional competence, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Air Commodore Thekkekara Thomas Job.

Wing Commander Venkitaraman Subramanian (13673) Logistics was posted at a Base Repair Depot since 11 Apr 98 as Chief Logistics Officer. During his service career he has held various important appointments viz. SLO, Air Force Station, Yelahanka, OC 24 Equipment Depot (Dett), Senior Instructor Logistics at Air Force Academy and Instructor with Nigerian Air Force.

On taking over as Chief Logistics Officer of a BRD, which overhauls front line fighter aircraft, he carried out an analysis of the problem areas that existed in providing spares to the production line. A complete reorganisation of the Logistics Support Wing was carried out bringing all provisioning activities together under one head and all stores management under another head. Key Result Areas after this were the centralization of Stock Record Section and the formulation of the BRD AOG cell. Immediate positive results were seen in the optimum utilisation of items found common between the weapon systems and elimination of duplicate provisioning action. The long term benefits that have accrued to the IAF are a 25% reduction in the quantum of spares that would be procured from foreign sources through the provisioning reviews of 1998 and resultant savings of FOREX. Centralised AOG management resulted in drastic reduction of outstanding AOG demand.

The BRD was entrusted with the enhanced task of production of a frontline fighter aircraft in 1998-99 to avoid sending these aircraft abroad for overhaul. Critical spares, which were to be received from abroad, had not materialised and the impending urgency was to procure these from HAL and other various sources. Continuous personal monitoring, adoption of ingenious methods and total involvement in the task achievement were the highlights of the officer's contribution.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Venkitaraman Subramanian.

The officer is innovative and an excellent professional. In Nov 97 a fighter fleet faced a major problem of bulging of No. 2 fuel tank and fuel leak in the air intake region. Over a period, more and more aircraft were affected with similar problems. Neither repair scheme nor the technology to undertake the repair was available in India and Russians had quoted an exorbitant cost to undertake this task. During discussions with Russians, Sqn Ldr Kuldeep Sharma used his engineering skill and sound knowledge to extract maximum possible information regarding materials, tools and the procedures to be used to undertake suitable repair on fuel tanks. He then left no stone unturned to develop the repair technology indigenously. He actively associated himself with HAL (ND) design department in preparation of repair drawings and subsequently made detailed procedures to undertake the repair.

A team of technicians pooled from the BRD and HAL (ND) headed by Sqn Ldr Kuldeep Sharma was formed to undertake the repair on five seriously affected aircraft. Numerous difficulties in terms of availability of materials, spares and tooling were faced by the team. Due to undaunting efforts put in by Sqn Leader Kuldeep Sharma, fuel tank repair on all five aircraft could be completed by Dec 98.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Sqn Ldr Kuldeep Sharma.

607784-K Warrant Officer Kalathil Pushpakan, Electrical Fitter, was enrolled in the Indian Air Force, in the year 1971 in Electrical Fitter Trade. In 30 years service he has worked in a number of fighter aircraft units at all levels of servicing both as a worker and a supervisor. He is a highly skilled and dedicated professional who has contributed to efficient running of all the units he was posted in. He was commended by the CAS in 1997 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command in 1985. WO Pushpakan was posted to Base Repair Depot (BRD) engaged in overhaul of modern fighter aircraft, in June 1996. At that time overhaul line for a new fighter aircraft was being set up without the availability of Russian specialist. In spite a numerous difficulties like incomplete documentation, shortage of spares, delay in supply of equipment, he motivated and guided the team placed under him to achieve commendable results.

WO Pushpakan has also been instrumental in developing a number of modifications on the aircraft. The aircraft engine was de-rated for peacetime operation. Up-rating the engine power for operational role normally required two to three days. He introduced a modification, by incorporating a three-way switch, whereby the up rating could be carried out in a matter of few hours thus ensuring faster availability of aircraft for operational role.

WO Pushpakan was also instrumental in developing some other modifications like closing of air intake below certain speed to avoid foreign object damage and switching ON or OFF landing lights with landing gear extension. All the above modifications have resulted in a saving of approximately Rs 10 crores in foreign exchange.

For distinguished service of a high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Warrant Officer Kalathil Pushpakan.

Group Captain Pankaj Aneja (15975) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering Branch of the IAF in Jan, 1980. The officer is ME (Mechanical) in Air Armament. He has undergone Air Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College. He was commended by AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command in 1991 and by the CAS in 1995. Presently, he is on the posted strength of Air Force Station, Ojhar since 06 Nov 2000.

He took over as Senior Production Engineer in MiG-23 overhaul line when the production line was passing through a difficult phase. The post production aircrafts were experiencing repeated snags on autopilot and avionics systems during test flights and large number of serious structural defects, severely affecting availability of aircraft. He regrouped his team and brought about an appreciable improvement by reducing the air test requirement from over ten to an average of six air tests. With his professional skills, he indigenously developed structural repair schemes and facilitated repair of number of aircraft by the depot team. Under his guidance as Chief of Aircraft, the depot for the first time in the history, not only achieved the task but also ferried out all MiG-23 and MiG-29 aircraft to operating units in the same production year. This was despite the fact that aircraft were inducted late for overhaul and there was shortage of manpower due to augmentation during 'Op Parakram'.

The officer also provided valuable guidance to rectify SM 293 aircraft, which had serious and chronic snag of Revolution Per Minute (RPM) drop since the year 1995. He has also made significant contribution towards fast recovery of 16 MiG-23 aircraft unserviceable due to Main Landing Gear (MLG) beam crack, issue of STI (Special Technical Instructions) on MLG beam, life extension review on MiG-23 aircraft, and fabrication of snow clearance rig.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Pankaj Aneja.

635940 Warrant Officer Avdhesh Kumar Singh Radar/Fitter was enrolled on 27 May 1978 in Radar Fitter trade of the IAF. He has been commended by the AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command in 2002. Presently, he is posted to a Base Repair Depot and is working in the Main Hangar Line of MiG-29 Aircraft Servicing Division. WO AK Singh was trained in Russia on Air Interception Radar of MiG-29 frontline fighter aircraft. Therefore, he was associated in setting up of overhaul facilities for this aircraft where he played a crucial role in technology development for the overhaul. He was also actively involved in various solution finding exercises, such as development of integration checks for the Air Interception Radar, Antenna replacement of the Navigation Radar, and intricate rectification of the highly complex radar system of this fighter aircraft.

During the last two years, he has been working as Warrant Officer in-charge of the MiG-29 Aircraft Servicing Division, where he has shown exemplary dedication, motivation and leadership qualities while discharging his duties. With his positive attitude and exceptional managerial capabilities, he has been able to motivate the multitude of sections in the Aircraft Servicing Division to work as a cohesive group. As a result, the Depot, for the first time, was able to produce and ferry out all the aircraft as per the allotted task.

WO AK Singh has displayed extraordinary flair in managing available resources and enabled effective coordination of technical activities in the production line. He has been successful in coordinating preparation of technologies for overhaul of 1995-batch of MiG-29 aircraft, and develop new technologies for Intermediate Repair of 1986-batch of these aircraft to facilitate its post-production life. Further, due to his in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the overhaul process, his contribution towards development of production module of the computer-based Integrated Production and Resource Management System was of an exceptional order.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Warrant Officer Avdhesh Kumar Singh.

Wing Commander Sanjay Nathak (18486) AE (L) is on the posted strength of a prestigious Base Repair Depot since 27 Jun 05 and has been functioning as Sqn Cdr Aircraft Overhaul Sqn (MiG-29).

Wg Cdr Nathak has been a highly versatile officer and his experience in military aviation spans from MiG-23 to MiG-29 from first line to fourth line. He is also trained on ground systems including Radio and Radar navigation equipment. He has also been trained in USA on Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Analysis for allocation of frequencies and undertaking interference analysis. He has been commended by AOC-in-C, SWAC and CAS in 1997 and 2000 respectively for displaying exceptional professional acumen and innovative approach. He has also been recommended for Dr. VM Ghatage award of Aeronautical Society of India for special achievement and contribution to the field of aviation.

During his tenure, he has been instrumental in undertaking major structural repair schemes for repair of wing of trainer ac KS3305 damaged during an mid air incident and air intake repair on ac KB-709 which had got damaged during landing as the ac had skidded off the runway. Both the structural repairs involved high level of skill along with pro-active and innovative approach to undertake such repairs, which were first of its kind and never ever attempted in the fleet. Since the repairs were directly affecting flight safety, the repair scheme so developed by Wg Cdr Nathak and his motivated team had to be vetted by HAL (ND) and approved by RCMA (N). Both the ac are presently under exploitation without any restriction and speaks high about professional pride and involvement and was also appreciated and placed on record by the OEM design team, which had visited the Depot during their survey visit for upgrade of MiG-29 ac. This has not only resulted in substantial savings in FOREX which can not be weighed in cost in isolation but has helped boost the confidence and professional acumen of the team led by him. The MiG-29 fleet was recently affected with cracks on Fin Beam and as a result six ac were grounded in 2006. He ably led an independent team and had successfully absorbed the intricacies of the highly complicated technology, which involved cutting open of fin and independently enabled recovery of affected aircraft in record time with effective implementation of technology. His proactive approach in adopting the technology and executing it without the assistance from OEM has entailed in savings of approx 66,000 USD. He has also been instrumental in undertaking review of technology for repair of Wing Fuel leak and Drop Tank repairs.

For his exceptional acumen, foresight, creative thinking and distinguished service of high order, Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Sanjay Nathak.