Kothapalli Venkata Rama Raju
AVM KVR Raju, VM (Retd.)
Technical Head, UAVs and Missiles
Air Vice Marshal Kothapalli Venkata Rama Raju (Retd.) is the Technical Head of UAVs and Missiles at Adani Defence & Aerospace. With an illustrious career in the Indian Air Force, he was commissioned in 1986 and distinguished himself as a Fighter Combat Leader, earning the prestigious Sword of Honour. He has accumulated over 3000 hours of flying experience on a range of aircraft including the MiG-21 FL, MiG-21 Bis, MiG-29, Su-30 K, and Su-30 MKI.
During his military service, Wing Commander Raju held several key positions, notably as Commanding Officer of 24 Squadron. As the Flight Commander of the first Su-30 MKI Squadron, he was instrumental in developing air combat tactics and implementing new operational concepts for the Su-30 fleet. He also participated in Air Defence operations during the Kargil War.
His international experience is extensive, having led and contributed to exercises with the air forces of Singapore, France, and the USA. He successfully managed the induction and de-induction of six Sukhoi-30K aircraft to France, demonstrating his exceptional leadership and strategic planning abilities.
Wing Commander Raju's outstanding service has been recognized with the Vayu Sena Medal, awarded by the President of India. He is an alumnus of Sainik School Korukonda, the National Defence Academy, and the Defence Services Staff College. His academic qualifications include a B.Sc. from JNU, an M.Sc. in Defence Studies from Madras University, and an M.A. in Political Science from Haifa University, Israel.
At Adani Defence & Aerospace, Wing Commander Raju applies his extensive expertise and leadership to advance UAV and missile technologies, making significant contributions to India's defence capabilities.