# Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Flies Indigenous Tejas in Career Final Sortie as Tarang Shakti Concludes in Jodhpur > Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completed his final fighter sortie in the indigenous Tejas aircraft at Jodhpur Airbase. The flight also marked the conclusion of the multinational Tarang Shakti-2026 air combat exercise. **Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-10-14 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/jodhpur-men-svadeshi-tejas-urakara-eyara-chipha-marshala-ap-singh-ne-li-asamana-se-vidai-tarang-shakti-abhyasa-ka-bhi-hua-samapana-47383 · **Language:** English **Tags:** AP Singh, Tejas Fighter Jet, Indian Air Force, Tarang Shakti 2026, Jodhpur Airbase, Ashutosh Dixit Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh marked the culmination of his active fighter flying journey by completing his final sortie from Jodhpur airbase. In a symbolic gesture underscoring domestic aerospace capabilities, the Air Chief chose the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft for this personal milestone. His final flight closed an illustrious operational chapter spanning several decades in the military skies. The high-profile sortie simultaneously served as the ceremonial conclusion to Tarang Shakti-2026, the multinational aerial exercise staged at the strategic base in Rajasthan. ## Global Air Power Displays Alongside Rafale, Sukhoi and F-16 Jets The skies over Jodhpur transformed into an expansive display of joint tactical aviation as domestic and overseas frontline aircraft took part in operations around the Air Chief's final mission. Indian air assets, including the Sukhoi-30 MKI, Rafale, and MiG-29, operated alongside F-16 fighter jets deployed by the United Arab Emirates Air Force. Demonstrating precision formation flying, the Indian Air Force Suryakiran Aerobatic Team executed structured maneuvers during the event. The synchronized flights brought out the operational objectives of Tarang Shakti-2026, where diverse air forces gathered to refine mutual coordination, interoperability, and cooperative operational readiness. ## Curtains Down on Tarang Shakti-2026 Involving Seven Partner Nations Tarang Shakti-2026 concluded its operational mandate at the Jodhpur airbase following intense multilateral training serials. Seven friendly foreign nations participated alongside India, deploying modern aircraft and ground support crews to enhance mutual air combat strategies. Marking the end of the war games and the Air Chief's operational flying career, the Indian Air Force shared imagery and video documentation of his sortie. The service described the sortie as a watershed moment, paying tribute to Air Chief Marshal Singh's technical mastery, lifelong passion for flight, and unbroken dedication to the nation. ## Leadership Transition Ahead of October 31 Retirement Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is set to formally retire from service on October 31. Following his superannuation, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will assume the mantle as the next Chief of the Air Staff. Taking to the skies in the Tejas right before stepping down cements a lasting legacy that blends operational leadership with domestic defense manufacturing. The official communication from the air headquarters highlighted that the end of active flying duties does not diminish a veteran fighter pilot's enduring commitment and strategic contribution to national defense. ## What this means for you The Air Force Chief flying the indigenous Tejas for his final sortie reinforces strategic confidence in domestic aerospace manufacturing. - **Across India:** The public endorsement of a home-grown platform bolsters morale within the domestic defense production ecosystem and scientific institutions. Expanding local aircraft development minimizes long-term dependence on foreign military imports. - **In Jodhpur:** Successfully hosting the multinational exercise highlights the strategic posture and operational readiness of this frontline desert airbase. Such extensive multilateral maneuvers validate the base's infrastructure for handling complex multinational combat aircraft. - **For the Defense Industry:** Visible top-level confidence in the Tejas validates the technological reliability of India's indigenous aerospace programs. This visible operational trust assists in establishing the aircraft's profile in regional and international defense markets. - **For the Armed Forces:** The scheduled change in military leadership underscores institutional continuity and planned succession within the Indian Air Force. The incoming chief will assume command with clear continuity across ongoing modernization and tactical programs. ## Why this happened This flight took place against the dual backdrop of the Air Chief Marshal's impending retirement on October 31 and the formal conclusion of the Tarang Shakti-2026 war games. - **Scheduled Retirement:** Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is scheduled to retire from military service on October 31. The sortie represented his final operational flight in a fighter jet before laying down his uniform after decades of service. - **Endorsement of Indigenous Aviation:** By selecting the Tejas light combat aircraft over foreign alternatives for his last mission, the Air Chief demonstrated personal confidence in locally engineered military platforms. The act highlighted the capabilities of India's indigenous aerospace sector. - **Conclusion of Tarang Shakti:** The multinational air combat exercise at Jodhpur had reached its scheduled end. Conducting this milestone flight amidst deployed aircraft from seven international partners provided an operational conclusion to the wargames. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Which aircraft did Air Chief Marshal AP Singh fly for his final fighter sortie? He completed his final fighter sortie flying India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, the Tejas. ### 2. Where did this milestone flight take place? The flight was conducted at the Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan. ### 3. Which multinational exercise concluded alongside this sortie? The flight marked the formal conclusion of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-2026. ### 4. How many foreign nations participated in Tarang Shakti-2026? Seven friendly partner nations participated alongside the Indian Air Force in the exercise. ### 5. Which other fighter jets were airborne during the event? The event featured the Sukhoi-30 MKI, Rafale, MiG-29, UAE's F-16s, and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team. ### 6. When is Air Chief Marshal AP Singh scheduled to retire? He is scheduled to superannuate from military service on October 31. ### 7. Who will succeed AP Singh as the Chief of the Air Staff? Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will take over as the next Chief of the Air Staff following his retirement. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._