IAF chief AP Singh takes final flight in Tejas, the fighter jet he once helped test

IAF chief AP Singh takes final flight in Tejas, the fighter jet he once helped test Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completed his final sortie on the Tejas aircraft during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026. The exercise included multinational participation, highlighting operational capabilities and improving joint training. Singh has a long-standing association with the Tejas as a test pilot and has extensive flying experience. His tenure as IAF chief will end on October 31, after significant contributions to the Air Force. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew his last fighter sortie on Monday, taking the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft over Jodhpur during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, ahead of his retirement on October 31. The Indian Air Force described the flight in a social media post as a defining moment in a career shaped by a passion for flying and a commitment to serving the nation. According to the IAF, the Chief flew alongside aircraft from friendly foreign countries and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team during the multinational exercise. The force added that his service to the nation would continue beyond his flying career, and its message ended with the line that a fighter pilot is always a fighter pilot.Tarang Shakti 2026 was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12 under the theme Power in Partnership. The exercise brought participating air forces together for joint training and aerial manoeuvres, with the aim of showcasing operational capabilities and improving interoperability.ACM Singh's association with the Tejas goes back to his years as a test pilot. The IAF chief was commissioned into the force on December 21, 1984 and is a qualified flying instructor and an experimental test pilot. End of Article