Bengaluru: The Indian Air Force (IAF) marked the successful completion of its prestigious 47th Flight Test Course with the ceremonial Suranjan Das Dinner at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru. The event honored the graduating officers who completed the grueling 48-week program, a cornerstone in India’s flight testing and aerospace development ecosystem.
Chief of the Air Staff Graces the Occasion
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, was the Chief Guest at the event. He presented certificates to the graduating officers and awarded trophies for excellence in various categories, recognizing top performers for their dedication and achievements during the specialized training.
In his address, Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasized the critical role of test flying in modern air power and aerospace innovation. “Test flying is a demanding domain that requires the highest levels of competence, integrity, and service,” he said, while reiterating the IAF’s continued focus on self-reliance and indigenous capability development through flagship projects such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and LCA Mk-II.
On this occasion, Air Chief Mr Singh urged the graduating officers of the flight test course to embody the core values of “precision and excellence,” vital for building a strong, capable, and self-reliant India. According to an official statement, he called on the graduates to uphold these principles as essential to shaping a “Sashakt, Saksham, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Honoring Excellence in Test Flying
Top honors were conferred on the following officers for their outstanding performance during the course-
- 🏆 Suranjan Das Trophy (Best All-Round Student Test Pilot): Squadron Leader S Bhardwaj
- 🏆 Chief of the Air Staff Trophy (Best in Flight Evaluation – Test Pilot): Squadron Leader Ajay Tripathi
- 🏆 Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword (Best All-Round Student Flight Test Engineer): Squadron Leader Subhrajyoti Paul
- 🏆 Dunlop Trophy (Best in Flight Evaluation – Test Engineer): Wing Commander Ashwini Singh
- 🏆 Kapil Bhargava Trophy (Best in Ground Subjects): Major Kaustubh Kunte
Building a Self-Reliant Aerospace Future
The 47th Flight Test Course is part of the IAF’s sustained effort to nurture world-class test pilots and engineers capable of supporting India’s indigenous aviation programs. Graduates from the ASTE program play key roles in the evaluation and certification of next-generation platforms and systems.
Air Chief Marshal Singh urged the graduates to carry forward the values of Precision and Excellence, calling them essential virtues in shaping a Sashakt (Empowered), Saksham (Capable), and Atmanirbhar (Self-Reliant) Bharat.
