Historic Flight: Indian Service Vice Chiefs Soar in Indigenous Tejas LCA

In a historic move, the Vice Chiefs of India's Army, Navy, and Air Force flew in the domestically made Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, showcasing India's self-reliance and integrated defence capabilities during the multinational exercise Tarang Shakti 2024 in Jodhpur.

On Monday, Vice Chiefs from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force made history by flying in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Air Marshal AP Singh, the Vice Chief of Air Staff, led the flight, accompanied by Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, Army Vice Chief, and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Navy Vice Chief, in Tejas twin-seater jets.

This joint participation is a testament to growing cross-domain cooperation among India's armed forces. The unprecedented flight underscores India's advancements in integrated defence capabilities and commitment to self-reliance. The Indian Air Force highlighted the seamless integration of land, sea, and air forces as a key component of the exercise Tarang Shakti 2024, the nation's first multinational defence drill, taking place over Jodhpur. The exercise aims to enhance cooperation through various capacities, with Tejas playing a crucial role in modernizing India's defence infrastructure.

The Air Force release further emphasized that the Tejas flight symbolizes India's indigenous defence manufacturing achievements and the 'Make in India' initiative. Designed by the Aeronautical Design Agency and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Tejas fighter jet meets the armed forces' needs while reducing dependency on foreign imports. This historic flight provided the three Vice Chiefs an opportunity to interact with participating forces from India and friendly foreign countries.

(With inputs from agencies.)