JODHPUR- India’s Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew his final fighter sortie in the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft over Jodhpur during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, marking a significant milestone ahead of his retirement on October 31. The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief took part in the flight on Sunday, joining aircraft from friendly foreign air forces and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team during the multinational exercise.
The sortie carried particular significance because Singh previously worked as a test pilot on the Tejas programme. His experience testing the aircraft gives him a direct connection to its development, while his departure from the cockpit marks the end of a flying career spanning more than four decades.
IAF AP Singh Flies Tejas
The IAF announced the final sortie through a social media post, describing it as a defining moment in a career shaped by a passion for flying and dedication to national service.
The force also emphasised that Singh’s contribution would continue beyond his operational flying career, concluding its message with the sentiment that a fighter pilot is always a fighter pilot.
Singh joined the IAF on December 21, 1984, and built extensive experience across fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. By the time he became Chief of the Air Staff in September 2024, he had accumulated more than 5,000 flying hours.
His operational and leadership assignments included command of No. 22 Squadron, which operated the MiG-27, and leadership of the MiG-29 Upgrade Project Management Team in Moscow. He also served as Chief Test Pilot at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, strengthening his experience in aircraft evaluation and performance testing, TOI flagged.
Tejas Test Pilot Background
Singh’s association with the Tejas began through his work as Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre in Bengaluru. In that role, he was responsible for flight-testing the indigenous fighter, giving him firsthand experience of the aircraft’s development and evaluation process.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) leads the Tejas design and development programme, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) serves as its principal production partner.
The IAF contributes operational requirements, pilots and user evaluations to help ensure that the aircraft meets the service’s needs.
This background also provides context for Singh’s public criticism of HAL over fighter delivery delays. The issue remains important for the IAF as it works to strengthen its combat fleet and address a shortage of fighter squadrons.
Singh has also flown the MiG-21 and is the last IAF chief to have piloted the aircraft. The tradition dates back to Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, following a rise in MiG-21 crashes that began in the late 1990s.
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026
The final sortie took place during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, hosted at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12.
Conducted under the theme “Power in Partnership,” the multinational exercise brought participating air forces together for joint training, aerial manoeuvres and demonstrations of operational capabilities.
The participation of foreign military aircraft alongside Indian platforms and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team highlighted the exercise’s emphasis on cooperation and interoperability. Singh’s final fighter flight also came as the IAF prepared for a change in leadership.
The government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff. He will assume the rank of Air Chief Marshal and take charge on October 31, when Singh retires from service.
Singh also addressed a seminar hosted by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies on October 9, held in connection with the exercise and the IAF’s 94th anniversary.
Reflecting on the force’s development since its establishment in 1932 with four Wapiti aircraft, he highlighted its growth into one of the world’s major air forces.
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