President Droupadi Murmu's Historic Rafale Jet Sortie: A New Chapter in Indian Defence

On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu soared into history by flying in a Rafale fighter jet from the Indian Air Force Station in Ambala. Murmu's sortie was both uncharted and inspirational, being her second in an IAF fighter aircraft, following a Sukhoi 30 MKI flight in April 2023.

Adorned in a G-suit and dark sunglasses, Murmu, who serves as the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces, posed with a thumbs-up before taking off in the French-crafted jet, piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani of the 17 Squadron. The sortie traversed 200 kilometers in roughly 30 minutes, ascending to 15,000 feet and reaching 700 kilometers per hour.

Post-flight, President Murmu expressed her newfound admiration for India's defence prowess, while Air Chief Marshal A P Singh participated in a similar sortie. Murmu's trip follows a tradition of presidential flights in fighter jets, underscoring the prominence of women in defense, highlighted by her pre-flight meeting with Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, India's first female Rafale pilot.