Lieutenant General IS Panjrath, SM, VSM, assumed the appointment of Director General of Army Air Defence on September 1, 2026, taking charge of the specialised arm responsible for strengthening the Indian Army’s air defence capabilities.
Soon after assuming the appointment, Lt Gen IS Panjrath laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid solemn homage to the Bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
The wreath-laying ceremony marked the beginning of his tenure as the head of Army Air Defence and reflected the enduring tradition of remembering and honouring the personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
As Director General of Army Air Defence, Lt Gen Panjrath will oversee the operational and capability requirements of the Army’s air defence arm, including efforts to maintain a high state of preparedness against evolving aerial threats.
The appointment comes at a time when the character of warfare is rapidly changing, with the increasing employment of unmanned aerial systems, precision weapons and other aerial threats placing greater emphasis on integrated and responsive air defence capabilities.
Lt Gen Panjrath’s assumption of charge further reinforces the Indian Army’s focus on maintaining operational readiness, technological adaptation and the continuous enhancement of air defence capabilities.
The Indian Army continues to strengthen its air defence architecture through the induction and integration of modern systems, improved training and greater emphasis on technology-enabled operational preparedness.
His tenure is expected to focus on sustaining the Army Air Defence’s readiness and ensuring that its personnel and systems remain equipped to meet emerging challenges across the contemporary battlefield.
