Ambala, Oct 29: President Droupadi Murmu created history on Wednesday by undertaking a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet from the Air Force Station in Ambala, Haryana, becoming the first President of India to have flown in two different fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The sortie, piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron “Golden Arrows”, lasted for around 30 minutes and covered approximately 200 kilometres. The Rafale jet flew at an altitude of about 15,000 feet and reached speeds of up to 700 kilometres per hour, according to a statement issued by the President’s Office.
Before boarding the aircraft, President Murmu donned a G-suit and sunglasses, posed for photographs holding a flight helmet, and waved to officers and media personnel before takeoff at 11:27 a.m. Upon landing, she was visibly delighted by the experience and wrote in the visitor’s book:
“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. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station Ambala for organising this sortie successfully.”
Historic Milestone
This marks President Murmu’s second sortie with the IAF — her first being in April 2023, when she flew in a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft from Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam. With this, she becomes the first Indian President to have flown in both the Sukhoi-30 MKI and the Rafale jets.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh also participated in the event, flying a separate aircraft from the same airbase. President Murmu was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour upon her arrival at Ambala and was later briefed on the operational and combat capabilities of the Rafale aircraft and the Indian Air Force’s modernisation efforts.
Rafale: The Backbone of IAF’s Modern Air Fleet
Manufactured by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, the Rafale fighter jets were formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in September 2020 at Ambala. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived from France on July 27, 2020, forming part of the 17 Squadron “Golden Arrows.”
The Rafale fleet played a critical role in Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The IAF’s precise and powerful air strikes during the operation reaffirmed India’s air superiority and strategic deterrence.
A Legacy of Presidential Sorties
President Murmu joins a select list of Indian Presidents who have flown in IAF fighter aircraft. Former Presidents A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had earlier undertaken sorties in Sukhoi-30 MKI jets from Lohegaon Air Force Station, Pune, in June 2006 and November 2009, respectively.
President Murmu’s sortie in the Rafale is being seen as a symbol of India’s growing air power, self-reliance in defence, and commitment to women’s leadership in national security.
