Watch: In a first, IAF, Army chiefs take sortie together in LCA Tejas fighter jet | India News

NEW DELHI: Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday took a sortie in the trainer version of the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft at the Air Force station in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka.
The Indian Air Force and Army chiefs flew for around 45 minutes in the indigenously built aircraft. This was the first time two chiefs of the armed forces undertook a flight together in an indigenous aircraft.

“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 from 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, also if I had gone to the Air Force, I would have been fighter pilot,” General Dwivedi told reporters.
“And I must say that from today onwards, the Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is my guru because he made me do lot of roles and other activities while in the sky,” he added.
This comes a day before Aero India 2025, where India and the United States will showcase a range of advanced aircraft.
The five-day event, which will be held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, is expected to attract defense officials, industry leaders, and aviation enthusiasts from across the globe.
Organised by the ministry of defence in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Department of Space, Aero India has grown into one of the largest air shows in Asia since its debut in 1996.
One of the highlights of the show is the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior, a full-scale engineering demonstrator that is on display at the India Pavilion. The CATS Warrior is a cutting-edge system designed to enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force.
This comes just a day before the Aero India show kicks off in Bengaluru. The joint flight by two chiefs of the Armed Forces sends a strong message of unity and robust preparedness of the security forces to counter any eventuality.