President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday took a sortie in an Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet, marking a historic moment for India’s supreme commander of the armed forces.
The sortie took place at an Air Force station in the presence of Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and senior IAF officers. President Murmu was seen in full flight gear, carrying her helmet and inspecting the jet before takeoff.
“It was an honour to witness the professionalism and dedication of our Air Force personnel,” a senior defence official said.
Symbolic Moment During Operation Sindoor
The President’s Rafale sortie holds symbolic importance as it comes in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor — the Indian armed forces’ ongoing counter-terror mission in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The operation, which targets terror infrastructure across key regions, has showcased India’s advanced aerial capabilities, with Rafale jets playing a critical role in precision strikes and surveillance missions.
President Droupadi Murmu at the Ambala Air Force Station. She will shortly take a sortie in the Rafale aircraft.#Rafale @rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/BPlnSZSJQW
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) October 29, 2025
President Murmu has now become the third Indian President and the second woman head of state to undertake a fighter jet sortie.
President Droupadi Murmu takes a sortie in a Rafale in Ambala, Haryana.#Rafale @rashtrapatibhvn #DroupadiMurmu @MIB_India @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/xICTpZeRa2
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) October 29, 2025
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In April 2023, she flew in a Sukhoi-30 MKI from Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam, following in the footsteps of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil, who had earlier flown sorties in 2006 and 2009, respectively.
President Murmu has now become the third Indian President and the second woman head of state to undertake a fighter jet sortie. (Photo: Social media)
Her continued engagement with the armed forces underscores her active role as the supreme commander of India’s defence services.
About the Rafale Fighter Jet
The Rafale, developed by France’s Dassault Aviation, is one of the most advanced multirole combat aircraft in the world. It was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in September 2020 at the Ambala Air Base.
The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived from France on July 27, 2020, and were assigned to No. 17 Squadron “Golden Arrows”.
The Rafale became the first foreign-made fighter jet to join the IAF in 22 years after the Sukhoi-30 MKI, which entered service in June 1997.
