In a first, Vice Chiefs of 3 services fly together in Tejas fighter

In an unprecedented event, the Vice Chiefs of the three Armed Forces undertook a joint sortie in the indigenously manufactured Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) on Monday.

Advertisement

Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal AP Singh, flew the lead fighter in the formation while Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan followed in the Tejas’s twin-seater variant.

Sources said their joint participation in the exercise demonstrates the growing focus on cross-domain cooperation, with land, sea and air forces working together to face contemporary challenges.

This landmark joint flight marking the first time when the three service Vice Chiefs have flown together as part of a single formation is a powerful testament to India’s advancing integrated defence capabilities, commitment to self-reliance and showcases the seamless integration of the armed forces, an officer remarked.

The flight took place over Jodhpur, where the Indian Air force is conducting Exercise Tarang Shakti - 2024, India’s first multi-national exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational coordination among friendly foreign countries. This opportunity was also utilised by three Vice Chiefs for interacting with the participating crew both from India and abroad.

About 30 countries including India, with 150 aircraft, are participating in the IAF-led drill aimed at fostering closer ties that strengthen cooperation with a myriad of capacities. The inclusion of the Tejas in this mission underscores the critical role indigenous platforms are playing in modernising India’s defence infrastructure.

Designed by the Aeronautical Design Agency (ADA) and developed and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Tejas is a state-of-the-art multi-role fighter, designed to meet the needs of India’s armed forces while reducing reliance on foreign imports.