NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of India's armed forces, soared through the skies in a cutting-edge Rafale fighter jet from the Ambala Air Force Station today. Describing the 30-minute adrenaline-fueled flight as an "unforgettable experience," the President emerged exhilarated, penning her emotions in the visitor's book: "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."

Arriving at the strategic base around 9:30 AM amid tight security, President Murmu received a ceremonial guard of honour from the IAF personnel. Dressed in a G-suit and helmet, she boarded the twin-seater Rafale trainer piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, with Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh accompanying in a separate aircraft. The sortie covered approximately 200 kilometers at 700 km/h and 15,000 feet altitude, showcasing high-speed maneuvers and the jet's advanced avionics over a 100-mile radius around Ambala.

This marks President Murmu's second combat aircraft sortie, following her pioneering 2023 flight in a Sukhoi-30 MKI from Tezpur, Assam—making her the first Indian President to fly in two distinct IAF fighters and the second woman head of state to undertake such a mission. She joins an elite cadre including former Presidents A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil, who flew Sukhoi jets in 2006 and 2009.

The Rafale, manufactured by France's Dassault Aviation and inducted into the IAF's 17 Squadron "Golden Arrows" at Ambala in September 2020, represents a leap in India's aerial prowess. These multirole jets, equipped with state-of-the-art radar, precision weapons, and electronic warfare systems, proved pivotal in "Operation Sindoor"—India's daring May 2025 precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied territories, retaliating against the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 14 lives. The operation, spanning four intense days, neutralized key threats and underscored the Rafale's combat reliability, boosting calls for fleet expansion amid squadron depletions.