On May 2, 2023, the Ministry of Defence (India) said that Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan took over as the Air Officer Commander in Chief (AOC-C) of the Southern Air Command.
The Headquarters of Southern Air Command is at Thiruvananthapuram, encompassing Thanjavur, Sulur Airforce Station and Car Nicobar Air Force Stations
As per a defence statement, an impressive honour guard was presented to the Air Marshal on taking over the command.
Manikantan has flown various types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft and is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Helicopter Combat Leader with 5400 flying hours.
The esteemed and dignified officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Air Force Academy, Dindigul and had a tenure at Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment.
Additionally, he has commanded a frontline helicopter unit and two premier IAF Stations. Besides that, he was the Senior Air and Administrative Staff Officer (SAASO) at the Maintenance Command headquarters and ACIDS Int-C at the centre of IDS (Integrated Defence Staff). This body is responsible for International Defence Cooperation.
Before his take-over as the in charge of Southern Air Command, he was Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command, handling air operations, the statement read.
Balakrishnan Manikantan hails from the Kottayam District of Kerela and is an alumnus of Sainik School Kazhakootam in Thiruvananthapuram and the NDA. He became an IAF officer on June 7, 1986.
