Air Marshal Tejpal Singh assumed the appointment of Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) on 1 August 2026, taking charge of one of the Indian Air Force’s most senior operational and strategic appointments. A highly decorated fighter pilot with extensive experience in flying operations, flight testing, force planning and international defence cooperation, he succeeds Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, who earlier assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 16 June 1990, Air Marshal Tejpal Singh has served the nation with distinction for more than 36 years. He has accumulated over 3,500 flying hours on multiple fighter aircraft and is both a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot, placing him among the Air Force’s most accomplished aviators.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he established himself early in his career through exceptional professional performance. After serving with frontline MiG-21 squadrons, he qualified as a Flying Instructor in 1998, graduating at the top of his course in flying and aerobatics. He later underwent the prestigious Flight Test Course, where he was adjudged the Best Test Pilot, laying the foundation for a distinguished career in aircraft evaluation and operational development.
During his tenure at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Air Marshal Tejpal Singh played a key role in several major aviation programmes. He contributed to the integration of the electronic warfare suite on the MiG-21 Bison, participated in the evaluation of the Su-30MKI during its induction phases and supported modifications to Su-30K aircraft ahead of the multinational Exercise Garuda. His technical expertise helped ensure the successful induction and operational refinement of several critical combat platforms.
As Commanding Officer of No. 23 Squadron at Suratgarh between 2008 and 2010, he led the unit to significant operational achievements. Under his leadership, the squadron improved its operational readiness, successfully conducted multiple weapon-firing exercises, including R-73 air-to-air missile firings, and won two trophies at the annual gunnery meet. The unit also received high operational assessments and pioneered a briefing module for UAV interception, enhancing the Indian Air Force’s emerging counter-drone capabilities.
His distinguished service was recognised with the Vayu Sena Medal in 2011 for exceptional devotion to duty. The award citation highlighted his leadership, technical excellence, commitment to operational preparedness and contributions to the induction of advanced combat systems.
Air Marshal Tejpal Singh has also served in several important command, staff and diplomatic appointments throughout his career. He represented India as the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in Israel, strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and strategic engagement. At Air Headquarters, he held key appointments as Air Commodore (Intelligence) and later served as the Air Assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff, providing strategic support to the Air Force leadership.
As Air Officer Commanding, No. 11 Wing, Tezpur, he oversaw frontline operational responsibilities in the strategically important eastern sector. Following his promotion to Air Vice Marshal, he commanded the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru, where he supervised flight testing, aircraft evaluation and the integration of advanced aviation technologies into the Indian Air Force.
Before assuming the appointment of Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Tejpal Singh served as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) at Air Headquarters. In this role, he was responsible for long-term capability development, force planning, infrastructure expansion and the strategic modernisation roadmap of the Indian Air Force.
In recognition of his distinguished service and exceptional leadership, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2021, adding to his earlier Vayu Sena Medal.
As the new Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Tejpal Singh will oversee force planning, operational capability enhancement, modernisation programmes and strategic policy formulation at Air Headquarters. His extensive experience as a fighter pilot, flying instructor, test pilot and senior planner is expected to play a crucial role in advancing the Indian Air Force’s transformation into a technologically advanced, network-centric and future-ready aerospace force capable of meeting emerging security challenges.
