Test pilot, combat leader, astronaut: The fearless flight path of Shubhanshu Shukla
The year was 2006, a young cadet was about to step out of the haloed halls of the Air Force Academy (AFA) to sortie his way into the skies, but without any idea that one day his bold manoeuvring capabilities, the aptitude to cope with any cockpit he gets thrown into, and the skills to make split-second decisions will take him beyond the limits.advertisementThe Indian Air Force pilot is about to soar into the heavens as an astronaut. Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla is ready for his boldest sortie. He will launch to the International Space Station (ISS), piloting the Dragon spacecraft, on June 10, 2025.But before becoming an astronaut, he is a fighter pilot par excellence and a test pilot who pushed never-before-flown aircraft to their limits, exposed their vulnerabilities, shredded their weaknesses and strengthened the Indian skies.
Shubhanshu Shukla was given the astronaut wings by PM Narendra Modi.
We look at how his past life as a fighter test pilot prepared him to be India's first astronaut headed to the Space Station. BECOMING A TEST PILOTadvertisementBecoming a test pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF) is one of the most elite and demanding roles available to military aviators.The selection process is rigorous and begins with internal screening of serving officers from the Flying Branch, usually of Squadron Leader rank or higher, with a strong operational track record and a minimum of around 1,500 flying hours.To become a test pilot, however, the officer must volunteer on his own first. Candidates must be medically fit (Category A1G1) and possess strong technical and analytical aptitude.Those shortlisted undergo pre-selection evaluations at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru, where they face a battery of written technical tests, simulator evaluations, and flying assessments designed to measure their ability to adapt to unfamiliar aircraft and situations.These tests are followed by interviews and psychometric evaluations to assess mental resilience, problem-solving ability, and motivation—critical traits for handling high-stakes flight testing.Once selected, candidates undertake an intensive 48-week training course at ASTE, home to the IAF Test Pilots School, one of the few such institutions in the world.The curriculum is divided into academic, flying, and technical reporting modules, covering advanced aerodynamics, aircraft performance, avionics, flight mechanics, and systems integration. Trainee test pilots fly a wide variety of aircraft types, often outside their primary specialisation, and perform highly structured test sorties under closely monitored conditions. They learn to plan, execute, and analyse complex test missions and must produce detailed technical reports on flight characteristics and system behaviour.After graduation, test pilots are typically posted to ASTE or similar units, where they play a vital role in evaluating new aircraft, systems, and weaponry—both indigenous and imported. Their work directly influences India's air combat capabilities, making them central figures in the nation's aerospace advancement.COPING UPThe most challenging bit is to develop the adaptability to cope with an unfamiliar cockpit, and Shubhanshu Shukla did that flawlessly with the fixed-wing jets.He flew SuU-30 MKI, Dornier, AN-32, Mig-21, and MiG-29 among several aircraft during his test pilot tenure, logging over 2,000 hours of flying under his belt.The tenure that lasted for 2-3 years at one stretch required him to develop adaptability in a short timeframe and to act and react to the systems as and when required. "Fighter flying is highly dynamic, so is a space mission that requires you to think on your feet and make split-second decisions, build strong instincts and have the courage to mitigate issues no matter the situation. The Air Force Test Pilot School has prepared Shubhanshu for it well. Therefore, he was one of the first to volunteer for the Gaganyaaan Mission to become an astronaut when the news came," a retired IAF Air Marshal told IndiaToday.in.advertisementAs Shukla now prepares to fly to space on his 14-day mission that will take him through the skies, nearly 400 kilometres above the planet, the learnings from his test pilot missions will come in handy and propel him into a league of his own where only a handful have walked.
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