It is said, you can’t get anywhere flying unnoticed under the 24 X 7 vigilant eyes of integrated Indian Air Defence system. For Group Captain Pawanjeet Singh Sethi, a Radar, Commu-
nication & IT expert, his career in the Indian Air Force spanning over three decades was an unending phase of learning and imparting training on the evolving technologies to enhance the fighting and surveillance capability of our sophisticated and deadly fighter Aircrafts and Missile systems. Reminiscing his days in the Forces, Gp Capt Sethi passionately narrates his accomplishments and his contribution to the framework of the modern state of the art Air Defense system that would facilitate tracking enemy aircrafts from afar while transmitting data from the sensors through the advanced communication network to facilitate prompt decision making on the counteractions to be taken by the suitable Air Force air base.
He recalls having worked on the American and French Radars in the early days of his career. Those radars were not only huge and crude but also caused a lot of radiation and noise. Having come a long way since then, Group Captain Sethi recollects with pride the role played by him in installing sophisticated radars and communication hubs in the sensitive terrain of the North East and upper Northern regions. Due to existing geopolitical situation and to strengthen our defense capabilities in the North East, Gp Capt Sethi while posted to Shillong was part of the team for developing air strips and helipads that could support heavy lift of troops and arms to the remote and advanced battlefield to defend the nation for any eventuality. In his final posting at Prayagraj, he was involved in facilitating showcase of military strength and robust civil infrastructure for facilitating highway landings for both fighters and Heavy lift transport aircraft at Sultanpur Express Highway.
A high point in his career was to train Officers and Airmen on maintenance and operations of the Radars & Communication technology as an instructor in Bangaluru. As the Commander at Kasauli he was responsible for setting up of communication Hub for integrating of mobile Radars and sensors spread across India to Air Defence Network. Gp Capt Sethi cherishes every moment of his work with uninhibited pride. His work made him traverse through the length and breadth of the country before he took up a strategic assignment for Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) at Delhi where he served for over four years. During his tenure in the Forces, Gp Capt Sethi did his Post Graduate Diploma in Management & Administration from IIT Kharagpur besides doing several other courses in Radar, Communications, Nuclear strategy & Information Technology. He finally hung up his boots in the Air Force on June22 and is now leading a retired life at his home in S Block GK-2. He looks forward to doing need based social work for the colony. His wife, Suranjana, has been his pillar of strength throughout his career. She took lead in welfare of families, managing schools and recreational facilities for ladies and children at the place of postings. She fondly remembers conducting activity and adventure camps in multiple batches at Kasauli for the Air Force children. Further, she has been an educator and worked at various schools pan India. She has also worked in the Hospitality sector for the ITC Group during her husbands posting at Bangalore.
Gp Capt Sethi and his wife are blessed with two children. The elder one, a daughter is an Evolutionary Biologist pursuing her PHD from Emory University, USA. While their son runs a successful restaurant business in Punjab.
We wish Group Captain Pawanjeet Singh Sethi all the very best for the future.
