Indian Air Force ace pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been promoted to the rank of Group Captain. The officer was involved in a dog fight with Pakistani fighter aircraft and was awarded a Shaurya Chakra for taking down an F-16 combat aircraft during the engagement.

The officer has been cleared for promotion to the rank of Group Captain by the IAF and he would be putting on his new rank shortly, sources told ANI. Group Captain is equivalent to a Colonel in the Indian Army.