India’s Sky Heroes: Meet the New Elite Test Pilots of 2025
Newz Daddy Defence Updates
Synopsis of the Article
- The 47th Flight Test Course of the Indian Air Force concluded on 23 May 2025 in Bengaluru.
- The event marked its finale with the traditional Suranjan Das Dinner at Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).
- Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, was the Chief Guest at the ceremony.
- Officers were awarded certificates and special trophies for outstanding performance.
- The course lasted 48 weeks and involved rigorous training in testing cutting-edge aircraft and systems.
- Air Chief Marshal emphasised the importance of test flying, professionalism, and the need for self-reliance through indigenous projects like AMCA and LCA MK-II.
- Award Winners:
Suranjan Das Trophy (Best All-Round Student Test Pilot): Sqn Ldr SBhardwaj
Chief of the Air Staff Trophy (Best Flight Evaluation): Sqn Ldr Ajay Tripathi
Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword (Best All-Round Flight Test Engineer): Sqn Ldr Subhrajyoti Paul
Dunlop Trophy (Best Flight Evaluation – Engineer): Wg Cdr Ashwini Singh
Kapil Bhargava Trophy (Best in Ground Subjects): Maj Kaustubh Kunte
- The event celebrated India’s growing strength in indigenous aviation development and the excellence of its flight testers.
On a proud day for Indian aviation, the Indian Air Force held a grand event in Bengaluru on May 23, 2025, to celebrate the graduation of the 47th Flight Test Course. This special ceremony took place at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), where some of the country’s finest pilots and engineers train to test new aircraft.
The evening was marked by the traditional “Suranjan Das Dinner”, named after the legendary Indian test pilot who helped shape the country’s aviation future. This dinner is more than a formality—it’s a symbol of pride, honour, and dedication shown by each officer during the intense training.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. He gave out certificates and trophies to officers who stood out in this very demanding course. The Flight Test Course lasts for 48 weeks and is one of the toughest programs, where officers learn to test and fly cutting-edge aircraft and systems that are still under development.
Speaking to the graduates, Air Chief Marshal Singh said test flying is a very serious and specialised field. It requires not only top-notch flying skills but also complete dedication and professionalism. He talked about how important it is for India to become self-reliant in defence and praised ongoing projects like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and LCA MK-II, two aircraft that are being developed in India to reduce our dependence on foreign technology.
He encouraged the new graduates to carry forward the values of precision, excellence, and integrity, which are key to building a strong and self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
The event was also about celebrating the achievements of individual officers. Here are the shining stars of this year’s batch:
Squadron Leader SBhardwaj won the Suranjan Das Trophy for being the best all-round student test pilot.
Squadron Leader Ajay Tripathi received the Chief of the Air Staff Trophy for top marks in flight evaluation.
Squadron Leader Subhrajyoti Paul was awarded the Maharaja Hanumanth Singh Sword for being the best all-around student flight test engineer.
Wing Commander Ashwini Singh earned the Dunlop Trophy for his skills in flight evaluation.
Major Kaustubh Kunte stood out in academic knowledge and was given the Kapil Bhargava Trophy for best performance in ground subjects.
This course is extremely important for India’s future in defence and aviation. These officers are not just pilots and engineers; they are test pilots—people who fly aircraft still in testing stages to find any problems and make them better before they’re used by the wider force.
Their work ensures that our fighter jets, helicopters, and other flying machines are safe, reliable, and ready for any challenge.
This event also showed how much India is progressing in making its aircraft and systems. With home-grown projects like AMCA and LCA MK-II, India is aiming to become more independent and future-ready in defence technology.
It was a night filled with joy, pride, and motivation. The success of these officers is a big step for the Indian Air Force and for India’s ambition to lead in aviation. These young men will now carry forward the torch, flying high for the safety and pride of the nation.
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