New Delhi : Eleven Test Pilots and six Flight Test Engineers of the 48th Flight Test Course graduated from the Air Force Test Pilots School (AFTPS), Bengaluru, on May 23, 2026, after successfully completing an intensive 48-week multidisciplinary training programme. The graduating batch comprised 17 officers, including 14 from the Indian Air Force, one from the Indian Army, and two from the Indian Navy. The officers will now join the Aviation Wing of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), one of the Indian Air Force’s premier units.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh PVSM AVSM, an alumnus of the 17th Flight Test Course, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. He presented certificates to the graduating officers and felicitated outstanding performers with prestigious awards and trophies.
Sqn Ldr KK Singh, VM, received the coveted “Suranjan Das Trophy” for the best all-round student Test Pilot, while Sqn Ldr Aditya Jamdagni was awarded the “Chief of the Air Staff Trophy” for excellence in flight evaluation. Wg Cdr Abhinav Kumar won the “Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword” for being the best all-round student Flight Test Engineer. Wg Cdr Pranav Sharma received the “Dunlop Trophy” for best Flight Test Engineer in flight evaluation, and Sqn Ldr Paras Sharma was honoured with the “Kapil Bhargava Trophy” for excellence in ground subjects.
Addressing the gathering, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh urged the graduating officers to continue striving for excellence and highlighted the crucial role they would play in strengthening the operational capabilities and modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces. Stressing that “Atmanirbharta” remains a strategic imperative for building resilient indigenous defence capabilities, he underlined the significant responsibility of test crews in advancing the nation’s indigenisation efforts and strengthening the aerospace ecosystem.
The Air Chief further emphasised the importance of reducing design-to-delivery timelines while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality. He also called upon the officers to uphold the values of honesty, integrity, precision, and professional excellence in ensuring that aircraft and systems meet the operational requirements of the armed forces.