Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora PVSM, AVSM, ADC (25 June 1961 – 21 January 2023) was an officer of the Indian Air Force and served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff from 1 October 2019 to 30 June 2021. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.^[2][3][4][5]

Quick Facts 44th Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Preceded by ...

Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Arora in 2019
44th Vice Chief of the Air Staff
In office 1 October 2019 – 30 June 2021
Preceded by	Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
Succeeded by	Vivek Ram Chaudhari
Personal details
Born	(1961-06-25)25 June 1961
Died	21 January 2023(2023-01-21) (aged 61) New Delhi, India
Spouse	Baljeet Arora
Children	2 sons
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1981–2021
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands	Vice Chief of the Air Staff South Western Air Command Director General Air Operations Director General of Inspection and Safety
Service number	16557[1]
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

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Arora was an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He graduated from the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment in Gwalior. He also had an M. Phil. in defence and strategic studies.

Arora was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in December 1981. He had flying experience of over 2600 hours on Mig-21, Mig-29, and also helicopters.^[6]

Arora has commanded a Mig-21 squadron and then Air Defence Direction Center as a Group Captain in the southwestern sector. He has also commanded 45 Squadron as a wing commander. He has held other posts including air officer commanding of the Adampur Air Force Station, air defence commander at Western Air Command Headquarters, air defence commander at Eastern Air Command Headquarters, directing staff at Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment and as a flying inspector in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection. He also served as a defence attaché at the Indian embassy at Bangkok from 2006 to 2009.^[6][7]

Arora served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command from 30 September 2018 after superannuation of Air Marshal Ravinder Kumar Dhir, to 30 September 2019. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Arora was appointed the Vice Chief of Air Staff on 28 September 2019 following elevation of Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhaduria as Chief of Air Staff.^[11]

Arora superannuated on 30 June 2021 after 39 years of service.^[5] Arora died on 21 January 2023, at the age of 61.^[12]

In his career of over 38 years, Arora was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2011 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2020.^[1][13]

Arora was married to Baljeet; the couple had two sons.^[6]