President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday took a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet at the Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and other senior officials attended the event. The flight came at an important time as Rafale jets were recently used in Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Before the flight, President Murmu appeared in a pilot’s uniform, wearing a helmet and flight gear. As the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces, she continues the tradition of presidents flying in Air Force jets to show support for the military.

Event Highlights India’s Air Power

The sortie carried strong symbolic meaning. It showed India’s air strength and the growing role of women in the forces. Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, India’s first woman Rafale pilot, stood beside the President during the ceremony. Their presence together sent a message of confidence and inclusion.

Officials said the event reflected India’s modern defense power and the contribution of women officers in shaping it.

Shivangi Singh’s Role and Achievements

Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, who flies the Rafale jet with the 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows,’ was present at Ambala. Her presence ended false reports spread earlier this year by Pakistani media.

In April, some social media accounts falsely claimed that Singh had been captured in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The Indian government immediately denied these fake claims. “Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. This claim is FAKE,” officials clarified.

Shivangi Singh joined the Air Force in 2017. She first flew the MiG-21 Bison before moving to the Rafale squadron. She recently achieved a new milestone by earning her Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) badge on October 9, 2025.

President Murmu’s Earlier Fighter Jet Sortie

This was not President Murmu’s first flight in a fighter jet. On April 8, 2023, she took a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam. She became the third President and second woman head of state to do so.

Before her, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had also flown in Sukhoi-30 MKI jets — in June 2006 and November 2009 respectively.

About Rafale Fighter Jets

Rafale jets are made by the French company Dassault Aviation. The Indian Air Force formally inducted them in September 2020 at the Ambala Air Force Station.

The first batch of five Rafales arrived from France on July 27, 2020. They joined the 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows.’ Rafale became the first imported fighter jet to join the IAF in 22 years after the Russian Sukhoi-30 entered service in 1997.

These jets have advanced technology, strong strike power, and high precision — making them key to India’s defense.

A Symbol of Strength and Inclusion

President Murmu’s Rafale flight and Shivangi Singh’s presence reflected India’s new military spirit. It showed how the country values both technological power and equal opportunity.

Their appearance together became a symbol of courage, pride, and progress for the Indian Air Force.