IAF chief AP Singh to fly last sortie in Tejas fighter jet today

A “final sortie” means Air Chief Marshal AP Singh’s last operational flight in uniform before he leaves the Indian Air Force’s top post. The phrase marks a personal milestone, but it also carries institutional significance. His chosen aircraft is the Tejas, India’s locally built light combat fighter. The flight is scheduled during Tarang Shakti, a major multinational exercise at Jodhpur.

The aircraft Singh will fly is the Tejas Mk-1, not the newer Mk-1A. The IAF currently operates 30 Mk-1 fighters and eight trainer aircraft. During Tarang Shakti, the Mk-1 fleet has flown more than 600 sorties and about 800 hours, showing its active role in the exercise.

Singh is due to retire on October 31. His final flight also draws attention to the delayed Mk-1A, which the IAF and HAL expect to enter service by year-end. It therefore links a leadership transition with India’s next fighter milestone.

The Tejas, or Light Combat Aircraft, is a locally built, single-engine fighter operated by the Indian Air Force. It represents India’s homegrown fighter programme and is already participating in major multinational activity. The aircraft is designed for combat operations, while trainer versions support pilot training. Its development matters because it provides an Indian-made fighter option for the IAF.

The article identifies the Mk-1 as the LCA’s first variant. The IAF operates Mk-1 aircraft in initial operational clearance and final operational clearance configurations. The Mk-1A is described as the latest variant and the next chapter in India’s homegrown fighter story. The article does not provide detailed technical differences between the two versions.

The Mk-1 is already in service, with 30 fighters and eight trainers operated by the IAF. The Mk-1A has missed deadlines but is nearing induction. The IAF and HAL expect it to enter service by year-end, making its arrival an important next step.

The IAF currently operates 30 Tejas Mk-1 fighter aircraft and eight trainer aircraft. Together, these represent the first Tejas variants in active service. The fleet includes aircraft in both initial operational clearance and final operational clearance configurations. This gives the IAF an established operating base while it waits for the newer Mk-1A.

The Mk-1 has also been active during Tarang Shakti. The aircraft participating in the exercise has completed more than 600 sorties and clocked around 800 hours in the air. A sortie is one flight mission, so the figure shows repeated operational use rather than a single demonstration flight.

Tarang Shakti ends on Monday and includes 150 Indian and foreign aircraft. Tejas Mk-1s are flying alongside aircraft such as Sukhoi-30s, Rafales, Jaguars and Mirage-2000s. The accumulated sorties and flight hours provide a visible measure of the Mk-1’s participation before the Mk-1A begins induction.

Initial operational clearance, or IOC, is the first formal approval showing that a new fighter meets defined requirements for limited operational use. Final operational clearance, or FOC, is the later approval indicating that the aircraft has completed broader testing and meets its required operational standard. These definitions are established aviation practice; the article names the stages but does not list their specific criteria.

The distinction matters because a prototype or test aircraft should not automatically enter regular combat service. Clearance confirms that performance, systems and safety have been assessed against required benchmarks. IOC permits an initial operational capability, while FOC signals a more complete capability. The exact scope depends on the programme and its official requirements.

The IAF’s 30 Tejas Mk-1 fighters operate in IOC and FOC configurations, alongside eight trainers. This shows the Mk-1 moved through staged acceptance. The newer Mk-1A is still awaiting induction, with the IAF and HAL expecting service entry by year-end.

The Tejas Mk-1A has been delayed after missing several deadlines. The article does not identify the specific technical, manufacturing or supply-chain reasons behind those delays, so a precise cause cannot be established from the available information. It does state that the Mk-1A is nearing induction and is the next stage in India’s homegrown fighter programme.

The immediate consequence is timing: the IAF has to continue operating its existing Tejas Mk-1 fleet while waiting for the newer variant. The article gives the current fleet as 30 Mk-1 fighters and eight trainers. Delayed induction also postpones the point at which the IAF can begin using the Mk-1A in regular service.

The IAF and HAL remain confident that the Mk-1A will enter service by year-end. If that target is met, it would move the programme beyond repeated missed deadlines. Until then, the delay keeps attention on delivery reliability as well as the aircraft’s development.

Tarang Shakti is a multilateral combat exercise involving aircraft and air forces from several countries. The article reports eight participating air forces, 32 observer nations and about 150 Indian and foreign aircraft. Exercises of this kind are designed to practise coordination, communication and shared operations; those broad purposes are established military practice, while the article specifically describes Tarang Shakti as a multilateral combat exercise.

Different platforms contribute different capabilities. Fighters such as F-35s, F-16s, Rafales and Tejas Mk-1s practise combat operations. Tankers such as A330 MRTTs, KC-135s and IL-78s support aerial refuelling. Transports including A400Ms, C-130s and IL-78s bring mobility and logistics, while helicopters add rotary-wing operations.

This variety exposes participating forces to different aircraft, tactics and operating procedures. The exercise concludes on Monday after the aircraft complete their planned activity. For the IAF, it also provides a setting to operate Tejas Mk-1s beside foreign and Indian platforms.

Access to an F-35 can be restricted because advanced weapons systems contain sensitive technology, information and operating procedures. The article does not list the specific protected features. It reports that US security protocols govern access to such systems, and that these rules prevented Indian personnel from coming close to the aircraft during Tarang Shakti.

The US Air Force brought six F-35 stealth fighters to Jodhpur. AP Singh said Indian pilots were not allowed near them, even though the aircraft were participating in the same exercise. General Kevin B Schneider, the US Pacific Air Forces commander, said decisions about access were governed by Washington’s security protocols and were not his to make.

The episode shows that a multinational exercise can combine cooperation with strict technology controls. Singh also noted that the United States had not offered India the F-35 for purchase. The exercise therefore highlighted both military engagement and the limits placed on sharing advanced systems.