President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, created history on October 29, 2025, by taking a sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft at Air Force Station Ambala, Haryana. With this, she became the first President of India to fly in two different fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, having earlier taken a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023.
After the sortie, a memorable moment was captured when Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, one of India’s first women Rafale pilots, clicked a photograph with the President. The picture symbolises the strength, pride, and empowerment of women in India’s Armed Forces.
The sortie, piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of No. 17 Squadron “Golden Arrows,” lasted about 30 minutes and covered nearly 200 km at a height of 15,000 feet and a speed of 700 km/h. Air Force Station Ambala is the first base of the Indian Air Force to induct Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation, France.
In her remarks, President Murmu described the experience as “unforgettable” and said that the flight had “instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities.” She also congratulated the Indian Air Force and the Ambala station team for successfully organising the sortie.
This historic event stands as a testament to India’s growing air power and the inclusive spirit of the armed forces, with women officers like Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh continuing to inspire a new generation of defence aspirants.
