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 the progress of operational trials. During his interaction with personnel, CAS spoke of the unique and challenging role of ASTE, noted its laudable achievements, and reemphasized 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 the Software Development Institute (SDI), the unit tasked with undertaking the development of avionics software. He noted that the sustained focus on critical projects by the Institute had contributed significantly to 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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Air Chief Mshl RKS Bhadauria CAS visited Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) and Software Development Institute (SDI) at Bengaluru on 23 & 24 Aug.
As part of the visit, CAS flew a sortie in a Tejas MK1 aircraft. pic.twitter.com/tVgzbKVBpP

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