Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Flies Final Tejas Sortie

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew his final sortie in a Tejas light combat aircraft from Jodhpur airbase on Sunday. The flight occurred during Tarang Shakti, a multilateral combat exercise involving 150 aircraft from eight air forces and 32 observer nations. The sortie served as a demonstration of India's indigenous fighter capabilities, specifically the LCA Mk-1 and the upcoming Mk-1A variant.

While the Indian Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited expect the Mk-1A to enter service by the end of the year, the program has experienced delays. These setbacks stem from certification issues and the failure of GE Aerospace to deliver F404-IN20 engines on schedule.

The government also announced the leadership transition for the Indian Air Force. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will succeed Singh as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, serving a tenure that lasts until December 31, 2028. Singh is scheduled to retire on October 31.