The Vice Chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force flew together for the first time in the indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. This historic flight showcased India’s growing integrated defence capabilities and highlighted the nation’s commitment to cross-domain military cooperation in addressing modern security challenges.
The mission was led by Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS), Air Marshal AP Singh, who piloted the lead fighter, while Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani and Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan flew in twin-seater variants of the Tejas. This marked the first instance where the Vice Chiefs of all three branches of the armed forces participated in a single exercise.
“The flight took place over the skies of Jodhpur wherein Indian Air force has organized the exercise Tarang Shakti 2024, India’s first multi-national exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational coordination amongst participating Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs),” the Ministry of Defence said in an official press release. With numerous international participants, Tarang Shakti is designed to strengthen global defence partnerships and enhance cooperation across diverse military platforms.
The Ministry further said, “The flight of the Tejas…represents a significant moment for the nation’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. Designed by Aeronautical Design Agency (ADA), developed and produced byHindustan 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.”
The Vice Chiefs also engaged with forces from participating countries.