Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh took his last fighter jet sortie on the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, marking the end of a distinguished military career. The historic flight was carried out at the Jodhpur Air Force Station in the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti.
The decision to pick the home-grown 4.5-generation Tejas for his farewell sortie has a strong symbolic value. Air Chief Marshal Singh’s last sortie as a seasoned pilot, who was earlier involved in the testing and development of the indigenous aircraft, was a summation of a lifetime of passion for aviation and steadfast commitment toward self-reliance in national defense. The flight occurred against the backdrop of Tarang Shakti, an extensive multinational exercise that brought together air forces from seven foreign nations—including the United States, France, Germany, and Australia—alongside advanced platforms like the F-35 stealth fighter.
Announcing the sortie, the IAF praised the Chief’s philosophy of leading from the front, noting that while this marks the close of an active flying chapter ahead of his retirement on October 31, the mission of national service continues. “Once a fighter pilot. Always a fighter pilot,” the force emphasized on social media, sharing footage of the Chief flying alongside allied aircraft and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team.
This final sortie not only celebrates an exemplary career defined by tactical leadership and technical expertise but also underscores the growing maturity and operational prowess of India’s indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities.
