Air Force chief flies with Indian Army head in Tejas fighter jet

New Delhi: Chief of the Air Staff A P Singh on Sunday flew a home grown twin-seater Tejas fighter jet with Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi as the passenger.

The unprecedented flight not only marks a personal milestone for the two chiefs, who are course mates, but also underscores the growing synergy and integration between the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

After the 45 minutes sortie, Gen Dwivedi said, “It was the best moment in my life and as you are aware that the Air Chief Marshal is my course mate, we have been together since the NDA (National Defence Academy) days. I wish he had met me earlier and I would definitely have changed my option to the Air Force. As I have said earlier, if I had gone to the Air Force, I would have been a fighter pilot.”

"And I must say that from today onwards, the Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is my guru because he made me do a lot of roles and other activities while in the sky," the Army Chief added.

Air Marshal Singh, an old hand in the Tejas LCA programme, has been flying the home grown fighter jet for a long time.

“The flight also highlights the enhanced cooperation between the services. As both chiefs soared together in the skies, they exemplified the deepening bond and collaboration between the Army and the Air Force, vital to achieving operational excellence,” an official said.

“The Indian Army’s role in the air domain is becoming increasingly pivotal, especially, in tactical battle areas where helicopters, unmanned aerial systems, and air defence systems play a crucial role,” he said.

Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the LCA Mk-1A production facility at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

“LCA MK-1A is an advanced version of LCA MK1 with many advanced features. The LCA is a multi-role aircraft capable of taking up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack roles with ease,” the minister said in a social media post.