Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command

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Commander-in-Chief,
Strategic Forces Command
Vice Admiral Suraj Berry.jpg
since 6 October 2023
Reports to Chief of the Defence Staff
Seat New Delhi
Appointer Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
Formation2003
First holder Air Marshal Tej Mohan Asthana
PVSM AVSM VM

The Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command is the head of the Strategic Forces Command, the integrated tri-service command responsible for the management and administration of India's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.

Contents

The current Commander-in-Chief is Vice Admiral Suraj Berry who took command on 6 October 2023 as the 13th CinC SFC.

History

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) was created on 4 January 2003 by the Government of India under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Part of the Nuclear Command Authority, the SFC manages and administers all strategic forces by exercising complete command and control over nuclear assets. [1]

The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the appointment of a Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command, to manage and administer all Strategic Forces. [2] Air Marshal Teja Mohan Asthana was appointed the first commander-in-chief on 10 January 2013. [3] [4]

Organisation

The CinC SFC is a Three-star rank officer from the three Services in rotation. The CinC reports directly to the Chief of Defence Staff (India) (CDS). He is assisted by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the command, also a three-star officer.

List of commanders

List of Commanders-in-Chief of Strategic Forces Command
S.NoNameBranchAssumed officeLeft officeNotes
1 Air Marshal Tej Mohan Asthana PVSM , AVSM , VM Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force 10 January 200330 June 2004First C-in-C. [5]
2 Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani PVSM , AVSM , VM 12 July 200418 August 2005Later served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff. [6] [7]
3 Air Marshal Avinash Deodata Joshi PVSM , VM 22 August 200531 December 2006 [8]
4 Vice Admiral Vijay Shankar PVSM , AVSM Naval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy December 200630 September 2008Later served as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command. [9]
5 Lieutenant General Balraj Singh Nagal PVSM , AVSM , SM Flag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army 30 September 2008December 2010 [10] [11]
6 Air Marshal K. J. Mathews PVSM , AVSM , YSM Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force 1 January 201131 October 2012 [12]
7 Vice Admiral S. P. S. Cheema PVSM , AVSM , NM Naval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy 1 November 2012June 2014Later served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command and as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. [13]
8 Lieutenant General Amit Sharma PVSM , AVSM , VSM Flag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army 13 June 201431 July 2016 [14] [15]
9 Air Marshal Jasbir Walia PVSM , VM , VSM Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force 1 August 201630 March 2019
10 Air Marshal Navkaranjit Singh Dhillon PVSM , AVSM 30 March 201931 January 2021
11 Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar PVSM , AVSM , VM 31 January 202131 August 2021 [16] [17]
12 Vice Admiral R. B. Pandit PVSM , AVSM Naval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy 31 August 202130 September 2023 [18]
13 Vice Admiral Suraj Berry PVSM , AVSM , NM , VSM 6 October 202330 September 2025 [19]
List of CinC by branches of service
BranchCount
Flag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army 2
Naval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy 4
Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force 7

See also

References

  1. "Nuke command set up, button in PM's hand". The Times of India . 4 January 2003. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  2. "CABINET COMMITTEE ON SECURITY REVIEWS PROGRESS IN OPERATIONALIZING INDIA'S NUCLEAR DOCTRINE". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  3. "Air Marshal Asthana to head Strategic Forces Command". The Times of India . 10 January 2003. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  4. "Indian Army wants sole right over post of Strategic Forces Commander". Zee News. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  5. "Air Marshal Asthana to head Strategic Forces Command". The Times of India. 10 January 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  6. "Archive News". The Hindu.
  7. "Bhavnani is new Vice Chief of Air Staff". www.rediff.com.
  8. "Air Marshal Avinash Deodatta Joshi takes over as C-in-C SFC". www.outlookindia.com/.
  9. "Vice Admiral Vijay Shankar to take over as C-in-C of Andaman and Nicobar". OneIndia. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. "LT GEN BALRAJ SINGH NAGAL, PVSM,AVSM,SM - Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)". Archived from the original on 16 August 2017.
  11. "Lt Gen Nagal is new Strategic Forces commander". The Economic Times. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  12. "IAF commander to head Strategic Forces Command". Rediff.
  13. "Vice Admiral S P S Cheema, the present chief of integrated defence staff, will take over the unified Strategic Forces Command on November 1. - Times of India". The Times of India. 18 October 2012.
  14. "Lt Gen Amit Sharma, VSM Appointed Commander – in – Chief Strategic Force Command". 13 June 2014.
  15. "Govt sits on army posts". www.telegraphindia.com.
  16. "Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar to take over as new chief of Strategic Forces Command". 31 January 2021.
  17. "Rapid Turnover in IAF Brass". Bharat Shakti. 29 May 2021.
  18. "RB Pandit takes over SFC".
  19. "Suraj Berry takes over SFC".