Air Marshal Manish Khanna, UYSM, AVSM, VM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He last served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command. He was previously serving as the Senior Air Staff Officer, South Western Air Command.
Early life and education
The Air officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, National Defence College, New Delhi and College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad. He also holds a PhD degree in Defence and Strategic Studies.
Career He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986 from the Air Force Academy. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has more than 4,000 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and trainers and has held numerous training and staff appointments. He is a highly experienced fighter pilot and has flown various aircraft of the Indian Air Force which includes Mirage 2000, MiG-21 (BIS/T-96), MiG-25, F-5 A/B fighters and Hawk MK-132, Kiran Mk I/II trainers. He is a Category A qualified flying instructor and has rich operational experience in Air Defence, Ground Attack, Strategic Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare. The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of No. 35 Squadron. As a Group Captain, he served as the Commanding Officer of the Aircrew Examination Board.
As an Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Bidar, as the Principal Director (Intelligence) and Principal Director Personnel Officer (PDPO) and later as the Air Commodore (Air Defence Ops, Weapon System) at the Air Headquarters, New Delhi.
As an Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Air Officer Commanding, Advance HQ, Western Air Command, as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Personnel Officers at the Air Headquarters, New Delhi. On 5 September 2022, he took over as the commandant of the College of Air Warfare,Secunderabad.
After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on 3 July 2023, he assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer, South Western Air Command at Gandhinagar. On 1 June 2025, Air Marshal Manish Khanna took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan who moved to Central Air Command as Air Commander.
Awards and decorations During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal on Independence Day 2025, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016 and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2010.
Uttam Yudh Seva MedalAti Vishisht Seva MedalVayu Sena MedalOperation Parakram MedalSainya Seva MedalVidesh Seva Medal75th Anniversary of Independence Medal50th Independence Anniversary Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service Medal
Dates of ranks InsigniaRankComponentDate of rankPilot OfficerIndian Air Force6 December 1986Flying OfficerIndian Air Force6 December 1987Flight LieutenantIndian Air Force6 December 1991Squadron LeaderIndian Air Force6 December 1997Wing CommanderIndian Air Force5 May 2003Group CaptainIndian Air Force1 February 2009Air CommodoreIndian Air Force17 June 2013Air Vice MarshalIndian Air Force11 June 2019Air MarshalIndian Air Force3 July 2023 (AOC-in-C from 1 June 2025)
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