Vice Chiefs of Indian Army, IAF, Navy take to skies in joint military air exercise Tarang Shakti

Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) Air Marshal AP Singh, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan after flying in the indigenous Tejas fighter jet in the skies over the Air Force Station Jodhpur. (Image: PTI)

In a remarkable display of joint military collaboration, the vice chiefs of the Indian Air Force, Army, and Navy took to the skies in the indigenous light combat aircraft Tejas during the Tarang Shakti air exercise in Jodhpur on Monday. Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal AP Singh 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, according to officials.

The Tejas, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), is a versatile combat aircraft designed for air superiority, offensive air support, reconnaissance, and anti-ship operations. The participation of the three vice chiefs marked a historic first, demonstrating the growing emphasis on cross-domain cooperation between India's armed forces and the country's commitment to self-reliance in defence capabilities.

The ongoing Tarang Shakti exercise, led by the Indian Air Force (IAF), aims to enhance interoperability and operational coordination among participating nations. The inclusion of the Tejas aircraft in the exercise underscores its role in modernising India's defence infrastructure, as the IAF prepares to make Tejas a central element of its fleet.

Following their flights, the vice chiefs interacted with Indian and foreign military participants. The exercise reflects India's focus on fostering international military cooperation while promoting indigenous platforms like the Tejas, which has garnered interest from countries such as Nigeria, the Philippines, Argentina, and Egypt.