Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria PVSM AVSM VM ADC, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) visited IAF units and flight test establishments/ facilities of DRDO and HAL at Bengaluru on 23 & 24 Aug 21. On arrival, CAS was received by AVM Jeetendra Mishra VSM, Commandant Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). 

             During his visit to ASTE, CAS was given an overview of ongoing projects and briefed on progress of operational trials. During his interaction with personnel, CAS spoke of the unique and challenging role of ASTE, noted its laudable achievements and reemphasised the need for staying ahead of the curve in order to leverage its expertise in delivering the requirements of IAF Operational units. 

             CAS also visited Software Development Institute (SDI), the unit tasked for undertaking development of avionics software. He noted that the sustained focus on critical projects by the Institute had contributed significantly in increasing the operational and functional capability of IAF. CAS outlined his vision for SDI to move towards software indigenisation for integration of various weapons on IAF aircraft and achieving self-reliance in enhancing combat potential. 

             As part of the visit, CAS met and interacted with the test crew and engineers of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). CAS underscored the crucial role of both the establishments in furthering the shared goal of building an indigenous aviation industry capability of meeting our future requirements. 

            During his visit to Bengaluru, CAS flew in an IOC LCA Tejas.

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ABB/AM/AS