President Droupadi Murmu recently experienced a thrilling flight aboard a Rafale fighter jet at the Ambala airbase, an event that served a dual purpose: showcasing India’s advanced defense capabilities and delivering a pointed message to Pakistan. Her presence alongside Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, a pilot of the Rafale, was particularly significant, directly addressing and debunking false claims made by Pakistani authorities and media in May.
During a military response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had falsely asserted that they had captured Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, a pilot of the Rafale jets. These claims were quickly proven false, and India responded by neutralizing terrorists and demonstrating its superior aerial capabilities, even refuting Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian aircraft.
On October 29, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, a proud native of Varanasi, had the honor of giving President Murmu a firsthand tour of the state-of-the-art Rafale multi-role fighter at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Haryana. This interaction underscored the nation’s prowess in air combat and the competence of its female pilots.
Earlier, on April 8, 2023, President Murmu had also flown in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet from the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam, further demonstrating her active engagement with and support for the Indian Air Force.
During her recent 30-minute flight, which covered approximately 200 kilometers at an altitude of about 15,000 feet and a speed of 700 kilometers per hour, President Murmu conveyed her exhilaration. “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,” she shared via her official X account.