Indian Army: The Deputy Chiefs of the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy on Monday flew in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas during an aerial exercise being held in Jodhpur, which was a rare sight.
Officials said that Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal A.P. Singh flew the main fighter aircraft, while Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani and Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan flew the two-seater aircraft. Tejas aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a powerful aircraft for aerial warfare and offensive air support missions, while it can also be used for military reconnaissance and anti-ship operations.
All three forces are working together
An official said that the participation of the vice chiefs of the three armies in the Tarang Shakti exercise demonstrated the growing attention to inter-regional cooperation under which the Army, Navy and Air Force are working together to meet modern challenges.
For the first time, the deputy chiefs of the three armies flew together
He said that this is the first time that the vice chiefs of the three armies have flown together. He said that this is a strong proof of India’s growing integrated defense capabilities, commitment to self-reliance and reflects the seamless integrated approach of the three armed forces. The aim of the Tarang Shakti exercise organized by the Indian Air Force is to strengthen interoperability between the participating armies.
Tejas was also included in the mission
With a range of participants, the IAF-led exercise aims to foster close ties that strengthen cooperation across a myriad of capabilities, the official said. The inclusion of Tejas in the mission underlines the critical role of indigenous platforms in the modernisation of India’s defence infrastructure, he said.
After this flight exercise, the Deputy Chiefs of the three armies interacted with the armies of India and the friendly countries participating in it. Tejas aircraft are going to become the mainstay of the Indian Air Force. On July 1, 2016, the Indian Air Force received the first two Tejas aircraft with initial operational clearance (IOC). The final operational clearance (FOC) of the aircraft was announced in February 2019.