The former Indian Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria today joined BJP and is likely to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Ghaziabad of Uttar Pradesh, replacing sitting MP and union minister General (Retd) VK Singh. Bhadauria joined the party in the presence of the party General Secretary Vinod Tawde and Union Minister Anurag Thakur. He is a Rajput face and belong to Uttar Pradesh. Bhadauria was born in Korath village of Bah Tehsil in Agra. He joined the service as a Wing Commander in 1999 and retired as Air Force Chief in 2021.
#WATCH | Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) RKS Bhadauria joins BJP in the presence of party General Secretary Vinod Tawde and Union Minister Anurag Thakur. pic.twitter.com/n3s9k7INmf
— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2024
After joining the BJP, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retd.) said that it will be yet another opportunity for him to contribute to nation-building. "I served the IAF for more than four decades, but the best time of my service was the last 8 years under the leadership of the BJP government. The tough steps taken by this government to empower and modernise our armed forces and make them self-reliant have not only given rise to a new capability in the forces but also given them a new confidence. The results of the self-reliant move by the government can be seen on the ground...From the point of view of security, the steps being taken by the government are very important and will take India to new heights globally," he said.
In 2022, the Central government under Narendra Modi designated former Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria as the Chief Nodal Officer for the UPDIC initiative. UPDIC, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), aims to develop the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.
While serving in the IAF, Bhadauria leveraged his analytical prowess and foresight and devised a groundbreaking method for conducting bombing missions from Jaguar aircraft using the Global Positioning System (GPS). This innovation proved crucial for enhancing the bombing capabilities of Jaguar aircraft during Operation Safed Sagar. Despite the squadron not being assigned to Op Safed Sagar, his significant contributions led to the successful implementation of the Jaguar GPS modification. Furthermore, under his leadership, the squadron conducted extensive trials on GPS anti-jamming techniques. Recognizing his prowess, the squadron was entrusted with the ground adaptation of the Matra Magic II air-to-air missile on Jaguar aircraft, a task typically reserved for the Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment. Currently, the squadron is poised to commence firing trials of the same missile, a testament to his remarkable leadership and expertise. He was also awarded Vayu Sena Medal to Bhadauria.
