India sacks IAF Vice Chief after Rafale failures

NEW DELHI: In another shake-up within India’s top military ranks, the government has removed Indian Air Force Vice Chief, Air Marshal SP Dharakar, just seven months after he assumed office.

The decision comes days after a similar move in the Indian Army, where the Northern Command’s top general was dismissed.

According to sources, Air Marshal Dharakar had been overseeing Rafale jet operations during Tuesday night’s aggressive flights over Kashmir.

He reportedly voiced serious concerns over how the jets were handled. Pakistani radar systems were said to have tracked the Rafales effectively, exposing flaws in India’s air defence performance.

Indian FM says Kashmir attackers ‘must face justice’

Sources claim that the aircraft failed to deliver during the operations, casting doubt on their combat readiness. Following this, the Indian government swiftly appointed Air Marshal Nermadeshwar Tiwari as the new Chief of Air Staff to restore order and coordination within the force.

This is the second high-profile dismissal in India’s defence setup following the recent Pahalgam incident, which Pakistani officials have termed a “false flag operation.”

Earlier, Lieutenant General MV Soodendran Kamar was removed from the Northern Command reportedly for refusing to launch an offensive against Pakistan.

The back-to-back changes suggest internal friction and a lack of trust within the Indian military leadership.