AIR MARSHAL ANIL KHOSLA (RETD)
PVSM AVSM VM
Indian Air Force Veteran: Former Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS), Indian Air Force.
Born on 09 Apr 1959, commissioned on 14 Dec 1979 and retired on 30 Apr 2019.
While in Service:
- During his service, Air Marshal Anil Khosla played a pivotal role in the DOKLAM operations against China and the BALAKOT strike against Pakistan. His leadership and strategic insight were instrumental in these operations, further solidifying his reputation in the Indian Air Force.
- He was involved in formulating Air Force War Plans, Force structure planning and capability building.
- He has handled (planned, monitored and executed) several internal and international Exercises and Disaster Relief situations, both within the country and abroad.
- He has worked extensively with the Army and Navy and has been associated with several Government Ministries and agencies, including NTRO, DRDO, ISRO, NDMA, DGCA, AAI and defence PSUs.
- Air Marshal Anil Khosla held pivotal appointments at higher ranks, underscoring his leadership and strategic insight. These include serving as the VCAS (Vice Chief of Air Staff), AOC-in-C (Air officer Commanding – in – Chief) Eastern Air Command, Director General Air Operations (DGAO), Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) Central Air Command, Air Officer Commanding J&K (along with NC of Army), and AOC Maritime air operations (Along with Navy). His contributions in these roles have been instrumental in shaping the Indian Air Force’s operations and strategies.
- Air Marshal Anil Khosla has served in all IAF operational commands across all sectors. He has commanded two important operational Bases, Ambala and Jaisalmer, which provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the Indian Air Force’s operational aspects.
Awards. Air Marshal Anil Khosla’s distinguished service has been recognised with three presidential awards: the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vayu Sena Medal. His commendation by the CAS and the AOC-in-C (during the flying training period as a cadet) further underscores his exceptional service and dedication to the Indian Air Force.
Qualifications. Air Marshal Anil Khosla is a postgraduate from the Defence Services Staff College. He is an A2 category flying instructor and a fighter strike leader. His academic prowess is evident from his standing first in the order of merit in all the courses he attended, including the Flying Instructor Course, Fighter Strike Leaders Course, Junior Command Course, and Staff Course. He was awarded the Commandant’s Medal during the Higher Command Course at Army War College and has attended the Senior Defence Management course at the College of Defence Management and the course at National Defence College, further solidifying his academic and professional achievements.
Flying. Air Marshal Anil Khosla, a distinguished alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force. His career, marked by over 4,000 hours of accident-free flying, is a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. His expertise with various aircraft, including the Jaguar, Mig-21, and Kiran, and his proficiency in both Ground attack and Air Defence roles, particularly in maritime operations, set him apart in the Indian Air Force.
Post-Retirement
Academic Work: He holds two MPhil degrees in defence and strategic studies and is pursuing research on China (how the Dragon’s brain works).
- He has delivered talks on military subjects like Leadership, China, Pakistan, Air Power, maritime air operations, and IAF in military academic institutions, including the National Defence College (NDC), College of Air Warfare (CAW), Army War College (AWC), College of Naval Warfare (CNW), College of Defence Management (CDM), and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC).
- He is a distinguished fellow at the United Services Institute (USI), the Centre of Air Power Studies (CAPS), and CNSS (Center for National Security Studies) at MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS). He is on the editorial boards of the College of Air Warfare, CAPS, and News Analytics journals. He is also a Strategic Advisor to the Aerospace and Defence division of the Synergia Foundation and the Indus International Research Foundation. Affiliated with CENJOWS as a Subject Matter Expert and on the Forum for Global Studies expert panel. He serves as the Chief Editorial Advisor for the IIRF Yearbook and is an advisor to Bharat TV Now. He has worked with several think tanks, Universities, News Channels, Colleges, and Strategic organisations (Details attached).
- His Academic work includes written papers (on air power, geopolitics, and security issues), the Conduct of Strategic Exercises, book reviews, mentoring, and motivational talks (Details attached).
- His Blog, “Air Marshal’s Perspective”, has over 770 posts on Contemporary issues (http://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/).
Hobbies and Interests:-
- A Keen Golfer, Billiards, Snooker and Pool player.
- His favourite pastime is puzzle-solving, which he has pursued up to the International level (Asia level in 2025), with 14 Sudoku nationals and 05 Puzzle-solving nationals.
Email: khuski@gmail.com
Blog: http://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/
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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@anilkhosla15871
Social Media Handles:-
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anil-khosla-6848a5179/
Twitter: https://x.com/AnilKhosla16
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anil.khosla.733076
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anil.khosla.733076/