IAF chief AP Singh takes final flight in Tejas, the fighter jet he once helped test

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew his last fighter sortie on Monday, taking the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft over Jodhpur during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, ahead of his retirement on October 31. The Indian Air Force described the flight in a social media post as a defining moment in a career shaped by a passion for flying and a commitment to serving the nation. According to the IAF, the Chief flew alongside aircraft from friendly foreign countries and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team during the multinational exercise. The force added that his service to the nation would continue beyond his flying career, and its message ended with the line that a fighter pilot is always a fighter pilot.Tarang Shakti 2026 was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12 under the theme Power in Partnership.