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.

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. 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. CAS was received by AVM Jeetendra Mishra 

VSM, Commandant Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).

 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 a sortie in a Tejas MK1 FOC fighter.