Bengaluru: The Indian Air Force (IAF) marked the successful culmination of its 47th Flight Test Course with a ceremonial valedictory event, the “Suranjan Das Dinner,” held at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru on May 23.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, presided over the ceremony as Chief Guest, awarding certificates and trophies to graduating officers who completed the demanding 48-week training programme. The course is a cornerstone of India's aviation advancement, producing skilled professionals for evaluating cutting-edge aerial systems and platforms.

In his address, Air Chief Marshal Singh lauded the role of flight testing in enhancing national defence capabilities, emphasizing the need for excellence, integrity, and professionalism. He highlighted the IAF's commitment to self-reliance through indigenous projects such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and LCA Mk-II, urging graduates to contribute to building a “Sashakt, Saksham and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Among the honours conferred, Squadron Leader S Bhardwaj received the prestigious “Suranjan Das Trophy” for best all-round student test pilot. Squadron Leader Ajay Tripathi was awarded the “Chief of the Air Staff Trophy” for excellence in flight evaluation. The “Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword” for the best all-round flight test engineer went to Squadron Leader Subhrajyoti Paul. Wing Commander Ashwini Singh earned the “Dunlop Trophy” for best performance in flight evaluation, while Major Kaustubh Kunte was presented the “Kapil Bhargava Trophy” for excellence in ground subjects.

The event celebrated both individual merit and the IAF's broader strides in aerospace innovation.