IAF, IIT Bombay Launch Master's Programme for Flight-Test Crew

The IAF and IIT Bombay have signed an MoA to establish a Master’s programme for flight-test crew, including test pilots and engineers. The initiative combines military flight-testing expertise with academic research to strengthen India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to establish a collaborative framework for providing a Master’s degree to flight-test crew, including test pilots and flight-test engineers.

The agreement will enable the Air Force Test Pilot School (AFTPS), under the IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), to leverage IIT Bombay’s academic, technological and research capabilities. The initiative seeks to combine advanced academic research with the specialised operational expertise of military flight testing.

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Flight testing plays a critical role in the development, evaluation and induction of military aviation systems. Test pilots and flight-test engineers assess aircraft and associated systems under a range of operating conditions, generating technical data that helps establish performance, safety, reliability and operational suitability.

The new academic partnership is intended to strengthen the knowledge base of India’s flight-test community by providing opportunities for specialised postgraduate education and research. It will bring together the IAF’s practical experience in flight testing and IIT Bombay’s capabilities in engineering, technology and research.

The collaboration is also expected to contribute to the development of India’s indigenous military aerospace ecosystem. By integrating academic research with operational flight-testing expertise, the programme could support research into advanced aviation technologies and help address complex technical challenges associated with the design, development and evaluation of military aircraft and systems.

The IAF said the initiative is aligned with the government’s Atmanirbharta objective and is intended to accelerate the growth of India’s indigenous military aerospace industry. Greater interaction between defence specialists and academic researchers can potentially support innovation across aircraft systems, testing methodologies and emerging aerospace technologies.

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The MoA was signed in the presence of Air Vice Marshal Ashish Srivastava, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Projects), IAF, and Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay. The agreement establishes an institutional mechanism for closer engagement between the two organisations.

The partnership is significant as India continues to expand its indigenous aerospace capabilities, including the development of fighter aircraft, helicopters, unmanned systems and other advanced military platforms. A stronger pool of academically trained flight-test professionals could support the evaluation and faster induction of these systems into operational service.

The collaboration between the IAF and IIT Bombay therefore represents a step toward integrating military aviation expertise with advanced academic research, while strengthening India’s long-term capabilities in flight testing, aerospace engineering and indigenous defence technology.