Squadron Leader Deepak Yadav was born on 10 November 1944 and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 25 December 1964. He began his career as a fighter pilot and spent several years flying with operational squadrons. During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, he undertook 20 operational sorties deep into enemy territory. His performance during the conflict earned him a Mention in Despatches.
After gaining substantial experience in operational flying, Yadav chose to specialise in the demanding field of experimental flight testing. He underwent test-pilot training in the United Kingdom and subsequently joined the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment. At ASTE, his work involved evaluating aircraft and investigating technical issues encountered during flight trials. He became closely involved with the testing and development of indigenous aviation systems.
On 28 September 1976, Squadron Leader Yadav was carrying out a flight trial of a Kiran HJT-16 trainer aircraft. The purpose of the sortie was to examine a specific technical problem that he had already identified during earlier flights. During the test, the aircraft suffered a structural failure that resulted in a complete loss of control. Yadav and Flight Lieutenant Ramesh Chandra Ghildiyal, who was flying with him, were killed when the aircraft crashed.
Yadav's final mission reflected the specialised risks associated with experimental aviation, where pilots deliberately undertake flights to identify and understand aircraft behaviour under demanding conditions. His earlier operational service and later contribution to flight testing marked a career devoted to both combat flying and the development of Indian military aviation. In recognition of his courage, determination and devotion to duty, Squadron Leader Deepak Yadav was posthumously awarded the **Kirti Chakra**.