President Droupadi Murmu (R) with Group Captain Amit Gehani. (Photo: IAF)
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday became the first Indian head of state to fly in a Rafale fighter aircraft. She undertook a 30-minute sortie from the Ambala airbase in Haryana.
The president flew at approximately 15,000 feet above sea level, reaching speeds of about 700 kilometres per hour in the twin-engine multirole combat aircraft. She was piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, commanding officer of the 17 Squadron, known as the “Golden Arrows”.
Upon landing, Murmu was received by the Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. She also accorded a ceremonial salute to Wing Commander Rochit Mohan and Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh after the flight.
The sortie marks the second time the president has flown in a combat aircraft, following her 2023 flight in a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter from the same airbase.
During the flight, the president was briefed on the Rafale’s technical capabilities and the Air Force’s operational preparedness. She was shown various systems, including the aircraft’s offensive capabilities.
The Rafale jets based at Ambala have been at the forefront of Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes launched in May following the February Pehalgam terror attack. The aircraft, equipped with SCALP cruise missiles and HAMMER precision-guided munitions, successfully targeted nine sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during those operations, demonstrating their combat effectiveness.
Sqn Ldr Singh holds the distinction of being the first woman Rafale fighter pilot in the Air Force. During Operation Sindoor, when Rafale jets operated from Ambala, Singh was among the pilots involved. She had previously been falsely claimed by Pakistan to have been captured during the conflict, though the claim was quickly refuted by Indian defence officials.
The presence of both Murmu, who is also the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces, and Singh on Wednesday highlighted the evolving role of women in India’s defence forces.
India formally inducted the Dassault-built Rafale jets in September 2020 after protracted negotiations. The aircraft are part of a €7.87 billion deal signed in 2016 for 36 jets, which has been credited with significantly enhancing the Air Force’s strike capabilities.
The Ambala airbase, located in Haryana, holds strategic importance as the first Indian installation to receive Rafale aircraft.
After the flight, the president wrote in the visitor's book: “I am delighted to visit Air Force Station Ambala for my maiden flight on Rafale aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight in the potent Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station, Ambala for organising this sortie successfully.”
The sortie has been celebrated as a moment symbolising national pride, the modernization of India’s air fleet, and the growing prominence of women in the country’s armed forces.
