The Impressive TimesAmbala, Haryana, October 29, 2025 — In a historic moment for India’s defense forces, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday piloted a Rafale fighter jet from the Ambala Air Force Station, becoming the first Indian President to fly two frontline aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The President was accompanied by Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, India’s trailblazing woman Rafale pilot, for a 30-minute sortie over Haryana skies. The flight not only showcased India’s cutting-edge air power but also decisively debunked Pakistani propaganda that had falsely claimed Singh’s capture during Operation Sindoor earlier in May 2025.
Visuals of the sortie released by the Indian Air Force showed President Murmu and Squadron Leader Singh preparing for takeoff, offering undeniable proof of Singh’s active service and well-being.
Defense analysts hailed the event as a symbolic assertion of India’s air dominance and gender inclusivity within the armed forces. The mission further strengthened national pride, marking a significant step toward breaking gender barriers in military aviation.
The President had earlier flown in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet in 2023, and her latest Rafale sortie reinforces her enduring support for the Indian Air Force and the women serving in uniform
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