New Delhi, May 24: After completing 48 weeks of intensive training, the Indian Armed Forces have welcomed 11 new test pilots and 6 flight test engineers. These officers graduated from the 48th Flight Test Course at the Air Force Test Pilots School.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the graduation ceremony at the Bengaluru-based Air Force Test Pilots School was held in a highly prestigious atmosphere. This special batch included a total of 17 officers, comprising 14 from the Indian Air Force, 1 from the Indian Army, and 2 from the Indian Navy. These officers will now join the esteemed Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment of the Indian Air Force, taking on the responsibility of testing the country’s fighter aircraft and advanced military systems.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, was the chief guest at the ceremony. He presented certificates and prestigious trophies to the successful officers. Notably, Air Chief Marshal Singh himself is an alumnus of the 17th Flight Test Course.
The Ministry of Defence reported that Squadron Leader K.K. Singh was awarded the prestigious ‘Suranjan Das Trophy’ for being the best all-round test pilot this year. Meanwhile, Squadron Leader Aditya Jamdagni received the ‘Chief of Air Staff Trophy’ for outstanding performance in flight evaluation. In the flight test engineer category, Wing Commander Abhinav Kumar was awarded the Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword.
Wing Commander Pranav Sharma received the Dunlop Trophy, while Squadron Leader Paras Sharma was honored with the Kapil Bhargav Trophy.
Addressing the young officers, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh emphasized that the future lies in indigenous defense technology and rapid modernization. He urged the officers to elevate India’s defense capabilities with integrity, precision, and excellence. This ceremony is viewed not merely as a passing out event but as a significant step towards strengthening India’s future air warfare and indigenous aerospace capabilities.
Trained at the prestigious Air Force Test Pilots School, these officers emerge as new experts in military aviation. The rigorous and multifaceted training program lasted approximately 48 weeks and included officers from the Indian Air Force, Army, and Navy. Following their training, these officers will serve in the aviation wing of the Indian Air Force’s esteemed Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment.
The Air Chief Marshal conveyed a message of continuous hard work and professional excellence to the officers. He stated that these officers will play a crucial role in the modernization and capability building of the Indian Armed Forces. He also highlighted the need to expedite the design and delivery processes of defense equipment and aircraft, stressing that there should be no compromise on security and quality standards. Furthermore, he called upon the officers to adopt integrity, precision, excellence, and professional efficiency as their guiding principles.
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