Ambala (Haryana): President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday took a 30-minute sortie in a Rafale fighter jet at the Indian Air Force Station in Ambala, becoming one of the few Indian Presidents to fly in a frontline combat aircraft. The sortie, conducted under the supervision of senior IAF officials, showcased India’s advanced air combat capabilities and paid tribute to the professionalism of the nation’s air warriors.
A moment of pride for the nation
President Murmu arrived at the Ambala Air Force Station in the morning and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, was also present on the occasion and flew in a separate aircraft from the same base.
Shortly before take-off at 11:27 am, the President was seen standing beside the Rafale jet, holding a helmet and wearing a G-suit and aviator sunglasses. She waved from the cockpit before the aircraft soared into the sky for a 30-minute sortie over Haryana’s airspace.
Upon landing, President Murmu deboarded the aircraft and was greeted by Air Force officers and ground crew, marking the successful completion of her flight.
President shares her experience
After the sortie, President Murmu shared her thoughts on her official X handle (formerly Twitter), describing the experience as “unforgettable.”
“The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight on the potent Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities,” she wrote.
The President also congratulated the Indian Air Force and the entire team at Air Force Station Ambala for organising the sortie successfully. She added that the experience reaffirmed her confidence in the IAF’s readiness and professionalism.
Continuing a presidential tradition
President Murmu is not the first head of state to take to the skies in a fighter jet. Before her, former Presidents APJ Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had undertaken sorties in Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft at the Air Force Station in Lohegaon near Pune — on June 8, 2006, and November 25, 2009, respectively.
In April 2023, Murmu had already made history by becoming the second woman President and third Indian head of state to take a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.
Her recent flight in the Rafale, India’s most advanced multi-role fighter jet, further cements her position among the very few world leaders to have flown in an active combat aircraft.
Rafale jets and India’s air dominance
Manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is a 4.5-generation fighter jet known for its agility, precision, and state-of-the-art avionics. India formally inducted the Rafale fleet into the Indian Air Force on September 10, 2020, at the very same Ambala base where President Murmu took her sortie.
The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived from France on July 27, 2020, and was inducted into the 17 Squadron, famously known as the Golden Arrows.
Earlier this year, Rafale aircraft were also used in ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched on May 7, during which the IAF successfully destroyed multiple terror infrastructures in territories controlled by Pakistan. The operation continued for four days before both nations reached an understanding to de-escalate military actions on May 10.
PIB dismisses fake video claims
Meanwhile, the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-check department dismissed a digitally altered video circulating on social media, falsely claiming that President Murmu criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the sortie.
“The President of India has not made any such statement,” the PIB clarified, warning users against sharing fake or misleading content related to the event.
Symbol of confidence in India’s defence
President Droupadi Murmu’s Rafale sortie stands as a symbol of her unwavering confidence in the Indian Armed Forces and their growing technological might. The historic moment not only demonstrates India’s rising self-reliance in defence but also underscores the role of the highest office in motivating the nation’s servicemen and women.