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President Murmu Takes Flight In Rafale - First Indian President To Fly In Multiple Frontline Fighters
President Droupadi Murmu flew in a Dassault Rafale fighter jet from Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana, marking another milestone in her role as Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President Murmu's sortie was carried out earlier today (29 October 2025) with the Indian Air Force's No. 17 Squadron "Golden Arrows".
The President arrived at the base in the morning and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour before gearing up in a G-suit, helmet, and oxygen mask. President Murmu also interacted with Wing Commander Shivangi Singh, the IAF's first woman Rafale pilot (who Pakistan falsely claimed to have shot down during Operation Sindoor), and met other officers from the Western Air Command.
The sortie took off at 11:27 a.m. and lasted around 30 minutes, covering nearly 200 kilometres at an altitude of 15,000 feet. The Rafale flying the President was piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the Golden Arrows Squadron.
After the sortie, the President was quoted by the official Rashtrapti Bhavan X account, stating, "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".
With this flight, President Murmu became the first Indian head of state to take sorties in two different frontline fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Her previous sortie in the twin-seat Sukhoi-30 MKI took place in April 2023 at the Tezpur Airbase in Assam. Former presidents A P J Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had undertaken sorties in Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
The Ambala Air Force Station serves as the primary operational hub for the Rafale fleet under the Western Air Command. The No. 17 Squadron operates 18 Rafales, inducted between 2020 and 2022, as part of India's modernisation of its frontline combat aircraft fleet.
Built by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is a twin-engine, multirole fighter capable of carrying out air-superiority, deep-strike, reconnaissance, and nuclear-deterrence missions. It measures 15.30 metres in length, 10.90 metres in wingspan, and has a maximum take-off weight of 24.5 tonnes.
The Dassault Rafale is powered by two Snecma M88 turbofan jet engines. These engines allow the Rafale to supercruise (cruise at supersonic speeds) and reach a top speed of Mach 1.8 (2,222 km/h). The Rafale can operate at a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet, and it carries a 30 mm GIAT cannon and up to 9,500 kg of external ordnance, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
For India, the Rafale includes 13 India-specific enhancements such as an advanced radar system, helmet-mounted sights, low-band jammers, and upgraded electronic warfare suites. These modifications were developed to adapt the aircraft for the IAF's combat requirements in the subcontinent.
Dassault Rafale Highlights
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation (France) |
| Role | Multirole fighter aircraft |
| Engines | 2 × Snecma/SAFRAN M88 turbofan engines |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.8 (≈2,222 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 50,000 ft |
| Length | 15.30 m |
| Wingspan | 10.90 m |
| Maximum take-off weight | 24,500 kg |
| Armament | 30 mm GIAT cannon; up to 9,500 kg external payload (air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons) |
| Indian enhancements | 13 India-specific enhancements including advanced radar, IRST, EW suites and upgraded communications |
| IAF squadrons | No. 17 Squadron "Golden Arrows" (Ambala AFS) No. 101 Squadron "Falcons" (Hasimara AFS) |
Images Source: @rashtrapatibhvn on X
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