| Honorific Prefix: | Air Marshal |
| Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor | |
| Serviceyears: | 7 June 1986 – 31 August 2024 |
| Rank: | Air Marshal |
| Military Blank1: | Service number |
| Military Data1: | 18253 [1] |
| Unit: | No. 15 Squadron |
| Commands: | Central Air Command |
| Awards: | Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal |
Air Marshal Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, VM is an officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Central Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 February 2023 succeeding Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh.[2]
Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad.
Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor was commissioned as the fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 5,000 hours of flying experience across full gamut of fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.[3]
He is a Cat ‘A’ qualified flying instructor and served as the Chief Flying Instructor at Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He served as the commanding officer of MiG Operational Flying Training Unit - MOFTU and commanded the Indian Air Force contingent at UN Mission in Congo.
As Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 9 Wing at AFS Halwar in the Western sector and later as Air Attaché in the Indian Embassy at Washington, USA.[3]
As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence at New Delhi. During the 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes, he presented the evidence of F-16 usage by Pakistan Air Force and subsequent shoot down of the same by the Indian Air Force MiG-21.[4] However, US count of PAF's F-16 fleet and Independent media reports confirmed that no F-16 was shot down during aerial dogfight between IAF and PAF.[5] [6] According to The National Bureau of Asian Research, such claims of an F-16 being shot down by India are said to be "debunked".[7]
Later, he served as the Air Defense Commander Central Air Command.
After his promotion to Air Marshal, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command and later as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief at Strategic Forces Command.[8]
He took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command on 1 February 2023 from Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh on his elevation to Vice Chief of Air Staff.[2] [9]
During his career, Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor has received the Commendation by the Chief of the Air Staff twice and has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and VM in 2006 for his service.[10] [11]
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vayu Sena Medal |