Historic Flight: Army and Air Force Chiefs Take to the Skies in Tejas
BENGALURU: In a groundbreaking event, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi shared a remarkable 45-minute flight in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at Yelahanka Air Force Station. This unique flight marked a significant prelude to Aero India 2025.
The joint sortie, a first of its kind for service chiefs, demonstrated the unwavering confidence in India’s homegrown fighter aircraft. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan later confirmed that this was indeed the inaugural instance of the Army and Air Force chiefs flying a fighter jet together.
General Dwivedi expressed his exhilaration, stating, “It was the best moment of my life.” He humorously reflected on the experience, wishing he had chosen the Air Force as his career path, playfully referring to Air Chief Marshal Singh as his “guru” after their shared adventure.
Promoting Indigenous Defense Manufacturing
The flight showcased the armed forces’ commitment to indigenous defense manufacturing, coinciding with India’s ongoing efforts to promote its ‘Made in India’ initiative in the defense sector. The Tejas, designed by the Aeronautical Design Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), signifies India’s growing prowess in producing advanced military aircraft.
This historic flight follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 30-minute sortie in the Tejas last year, where he became the first Indian Prime Minister to fly in a fighter aircraft, further solidifying the significance of the Tejas in India’s defense narrative.
As the nation celebrates this monumental step in its aviation history, it’s essential to support such initiatives that bolster local manufacturing and innovation. For exclusive offers on defense-related products and more, visit Looffers.com.
Stay tuned as India continues to soar high with its indigenously developed defense capabilities, setting new benchmarks in the aerospace sector.
