Air Marshal Naik is expected to replace Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major – the only helicopter pilot to become the chief of the air staff so far – in May, 2009 when Air Marshal Major retires, sources said.

Despite stiff opposition from a section inside the IAF, the government decided in favour of Air Chief Marshal Major keeping his seniority in service in mind. But with the selection of Air Marshal Naik, the IAF is once again back on its age old tradition of appointing fighter pilots as the IAF chief.

Naik (58), was commissioned in the fighter stream in 1969 and has flown all MiG-21 variants and MiG-23-BNs during his 38 years in the IAF.

Consolidating team

He is believed to be close to ACM Major who favoured upward movement of Air Marshal Naik who replaced Air Marshal B N Gokhale. In a clear indication of consolidating his team, ACM Major brought another of his favoured officers Air Marshal P K Barbora to the capital to head the strategic western air command whose area of operations stretches from Pakistan borders in the western flank to China borders in the east.