Eleven Test Pilots and Six Flight Test Engineers of the 48th Flight Test Course graduated from the Air Force Test Pilots School (AFTPS) in Bengaluru on 23 May 2026, post completion of a rigorous 48-week multi-discipline training curriculum.
This year, the graduating course comprised a cohort of 17 officers — including 14 officers from the Indian Air Force, one officer from the Indian Army, and two officers from the Indian Navy. From here on, the graduates will join the Aviation Wing of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), one of the premier units of the Indian Air Force.
Chief Guest
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, PVSM, AVSM, Chief of the Air Staff and a distinguished alumnus of the 17th Flight Test Course, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He presented certificates to all graduating officers and awarded trophies to meritorious performers.
Awards and Trophies
The following awards were presented at the ceremony:
- The prestigious "Suranjan Das Trophy" for the best all-round student Test Pilot was awarded to Sqn Ldr KK Singh, VM.
- The "Chief of the Air Staff Trophy" for the best student Test Pilot in flight evaluation was awarded to Sqn Ldr Aditya Jamdagni.
- The "Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword" for the best all-round student Flight Test Engineer was awarded to Wg Cdr Abhinav Kumar.
- The "Dunlop Trophy" for the best student Flight Test Engineer in flight evaluation was awarded to Wg Cdr Pranav Sharma.
- The "Kapil Bhargava Trophy" for the best student in ground subjects was awarded to Sqn Ldr Paras Sharma.
Address by the Chief Guest
While addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest exhorted the graduating officers to continue toiling hard with focus, and reminded them of the crucial role they would go on to play towards capability building and modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces. He emphasised Atmanirbharta as a strategic necessity for developing a self-reliant and technologically advanced defence ecosystem.
The SETP Indian Section congratulates all the graduates of the 48th Flight Test Course and wishes them success in their careers as experimental test pilots and flight test engineers in service of the nation.