Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh flew a Tejas light combat aircraft from Jodhpur during Exercise Tarang Shakti, in what was reported as his final sortie before retirement later this month.
October 12, 2026
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh flew a Tejas light combat aircraft from Jodhpur airbase on Sunday, October 11, in what officials described to Hindustan Times as his final flight before retirement on October 31. The sortie took place during the multilateral combat exercise Tarang Shakti.
The aircraft was an early Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1. The flight also brought attention to the indigenous fighter programme and the newer Mk-1A variant, which is intended to build on the aircraft’s existing capabilities.
Why the sortie is significant
Senior military leaders flying operational aircraft is a visible way to demonstrate confidence in a platform and engage with personnel involved in training and operations. In this case, the sortie drew attention to India’s domestic aerospace programme and the role of Tejas in the Indian Air Force’s longer-term modernisation plans.
Tejas is a single-engine, multirole light combat aircraft developed in India. The programme is part of a wider effort to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported platforms over time. The Mk-1A is an upgraded version designed with improvements over the initial production configuration; its induction and fleet expansion remain important milestones for the service.
What it means for India’s fighter fleet
India is managing the challenge of maintaining operational readiness while modernising its combat-aircraft inventory. Indigenous programmes can support local design, manufacturing and maintenance capability, but they also depend on production capacity, timely delivery, testing, weapons integration and sustained support.
A ceremonial or leadership sortie does not by itself establish the readiness of the entire fleet or resolve production and delivery challenges. Those questions require separate, verifiable information from the Air Force and the Ministry of Defence.
What to watch next
Attention will remain on the Tejas Mk-1A production and delivery schedule, the performance of Indian aerospace suppliers, and the Air Force’s transition in leadership later this month. Tarang Shakti also provides a setting for participating air forces to train together and exchange operational experience.
Source
Reporting note: Details are based on reporting published on October 12, 2026. The retirement date and programme milestones should be checked against official announcements for subsequent updates.
