Air Marshal
Balakrishnan Manikantan
AVSM VM
Personal details
BornKottayam, Kerala
SpouseGroup Captain Nirmala Tutakne Manikantan
AwardsAti Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayu Sena Medal
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service7 June 1986 – Present
Rank Air Marshal
UnitNo. 152 Helicopter Unit
CommandsSouthern Air Command
Battles/warsOperation Meghdoot
Operation Pawan
Service number18291[1]

Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, AVSM, VM is an officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 May 2023 succeeding Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati.[2]

Early life and education

Balakrishnan Manikantan, a native Thiruvarppu, a village in Kottayam, Kerala. Born to a teacher couple, Balakrishna Pillai and P K Lakshmi Kutty Amma, Manikantan is an alumnus of Sanik School, Kazhakootam and National Defence Academy, Pune. He holds a Post Graduate degree from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Masters in Management Studies (MMS) from College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and M Phil from National Defence College, New Delhi.[3][4]

Career

Balakrishnan Manikantan was commissioned as the helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 5,400 hours of flying experience across various helicopters and fixed wing plane.[5]

He is a Helicopter combat leader and a Cat ‘A’ qualified flying instructor. He served as the commanding officer of No. 152 Helicopter Unit and has taken part in the Indian Air Force contingent at UN Mission in Congo.

As Group Captain, he served as the station commander of Allahabad Airport and later as Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 21 Wing at AFS Leh in the Western sector. Under his command, the units won trophies for performance at the Command level.

As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Senior Air & Administration Staff Officer, Maintenance Command at Nagpur. Later, helped in setting up International Defence Cooperation at HQ-IDS and served as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (ACIDS) at Integrated Defence Staff.

He took part in the Operation Pawan, an operation against LTTE by Indian Peace Keeping Force and Operation Meghdoot.[6]

After his promotion to Air Marshal in August 2022, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command till 30 April 2023.[7]

He took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command on 1 May 2023 from Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati.[2]

Honours and decorations

During his career, Balakrishnan Manikantan has received the Commendation card by AOC-in-C, Training Command in 1988 and again by GOC-in-C, Northern Command in 2015. He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017 and Vayu Sena Medal in 2006 for his service.[3][8]

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal

Personal life

A fitness enthusiast and voracious reader, he is married to Group Captain Nirmala Tutakne Manikantan (Retd). The couple has a son Astrith and a daughter Abhishree.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan - BRF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. 1 2 "AIR MARSHAL BALAKRISHNAN MANIKANTAN TAKES OVER AS AIR OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF SOUTHERN AIR COMMAND" (Press release). PIB. 2023-05-02.
  3. 1 2 "AOC-in-C-SAC". Indian Air Force. 2023-05-01. Archived from the original on 2023-05-04.
  4. ↑ "Sainik School, classmates on a high as new Southern Air Command chief takes over on Tuesday". Lokmat Times. 2023-05-01.
  5. ↑ T, Nanditakumar (2023-05-01). "Air Marshal B. Manikantan takes over as AOC-in-C, SAC". The Hindu.
  6. 1 2 "Kottayam native B Manikandan becomes 3rd Malayali to be promoted as Air Marshal". Mathrubhumi. 2022-08-10.
  7. ↑ Chandran, Cynthia (2022-08-08). "Kottayam native Manikantan set to become Air Marshal". New Indian Express.
  8. ↑ "398 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced" (Press release). PIB. 2017-01-25.
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