Experienced aeronautical engineering officer brings extensive aircraft, fleet induction, and maintenance leadership experience to key IAF appointment
Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb AVSM VSM has assumed charge as the Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), taking over the organisation’s senior maintenance portfolio at a time when aircraft availability, fleet readiness and indigenous support remain critical to military aviation operations.
He assumed the appointment on 1 September 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Sanjiv Ghuratia AVSM VSM, who superannuated on 31 August after 39 years of service.
Commissioned into the IAF on 3 September 1988 in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch, Air Marshal Sanjeeb brings more than three decades of experience across aircraft engineering, maintenance and fleet management. His operational experience includes the IL-76, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), and Boeing 737-200 fleets.
One of the notable assignments in his career was serving as Lead Engineer and Team Leader of the Air Headquarters Project Management Team responsible for the induction of the IAF’s first IL-78 Flight Refueller Aircraft (FRA) in 2003.
He was also among the officers involved in the induction and operationalisation of the IAF’s AWACS fleet, giving him experience in managing complex aircraft and mission systems as they transition from acquisition into operational service.
Before taking charge as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance, Air Marshal Sanjeeb held several important appointments at Air Headquarters. These included Director General (Aircraft), Director General (System) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Maintenance Plans).
The combination of aircraft engineering, systems management and maintenance planning experience is particularly relevant to the AOM role, which oversees a critical part of the IAF’s engineering and maintenance ecosystem. As the IAF operates a diverse fleet comprising legacy platforms alongside newer-generation aircraft and increasingly complex systems, maintenance planning and fleet support remain central to maintaining operational availability.
The AOM portfolio sits at the heart of the IAF’s aircraft sustainment framework. Effective maintenance planning involves not only scheduled inspections and repairs, but also spares availability, engineering support, fleet reliability, component life management and technical manpower. Air Marshal Sanjeeb’s previous responsibilities in aircraft and maintenance planning place him in a strong position to oversee these areas as the IAF continues to modernise its fleet.
The appointment is also significant against the wider backdrop of India’s growing focus on indigenous defence aerospace manufacturing and MRO capability. As more platforms, systems and components are supported domestically, maintenance organisations and industry partners will play an increasingly important role in sustaining fleet availability.
Air Marshal Sanjeeb has been recognised for his service with the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2015 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2026. He is also an alumnus of the Bangladesh Flight Safety Institute and the Indian Institute of Public Administration.
With his extensive engineering background and experience across aircraft induction, systems and maintenance planning, Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb’s appointment brings an experienced technical leader to one of the IAF’s most important operational support positions.
For India’s wider aerospace and MRO ecosystem, the AOM role remains closely watched as the IAF continues to balance fleet modernisation, aircraft availability, indigenous capability and long-term sustainment across a complex and expanding aviation inventory.
