It was a defining day for India’s skies and its symbols of progress. Wing Commander Shivangi Singh, the nation’s only woman Rafale pilot, met President Droupadi Murmu at the Ambala Air Force Station soon after the President undertook a historic sortie aboard the frontline fighter jet.
The brief but meaningful interaction captured two milestones in one frame, a Head of State who has now flown in two of India’s most advanced fighter aircraft, and a woman officer who represents the future of combat aviation.
A President’s Double First
With Wednesday’s flight, President Murmu became the first Indian President to experience sorties in both the Sukhoi-30 MKI (in 2023) and now the Rafale. After completing the mission, she described the experience as “unforgettable”, a single word that reflected her admiration for the skill and precision of the Indian Air Force.
Officials at Ambala said the sortie underscored the President’s continued engagement with the armed forces and her willingness to personally experience the platforms that define India’s aerial defence capability.
The Woman at the Controls
For Wing Commander Shivangi Singh, the meeting with the President marked another proud moment in a career built on breaking barriers. A member of the IAF’s No. 17 “Golden Arrows” Squadron, based at Ambala, Singh remains the only woman pilot to fly the French-origin Rafale multirole fighter, the aircraft that forms the cutting edge of India’s air combat fleet.
Her role is both operational and symbolic. While she flies combat missions and participates in exercises like her male counterparts, her journey also embodies the Indian Air Force’s steady inclusion of women into combat roles that were once considered off-limits.
Ambala: The Stage for Air Power and Progress
Ambala Air Force Station, home to India’s first Rafale squadron, provided a fitting backdrop for the moment. Against the sound of jet engines and the precision of a ceremonial welcome, the event became as much about symbolism as it was about aviation.
The presence of President Murmu and Wing Commander Singh together reflected two parallel strands of India’s story, empowerment through leadership and excellence through service.
Observers at the base said the moment resonated beyond protocol: the country’s Commander-in-Chief meeting one of its most pioneering officers at the same airbase that anchors India’s air defence narrative.
A Message Beyond the Cockpit
For the Air Force, the day carried multiple messages. It was a show of operational confidence, demonstrating the maturity of India’s Rafale fleet and the proficiency of its pilots. But it was also a quiet nod to inclusion, signalling that gender no longer defines who can command the nation’s most advanced jets.
President Murmu’s sortie, conducted under full operational safety protocols, reinforced the professionalism and preparedness of the IAF. Her one-word verdict, “unforgettable”, resonated not only as a personal reaction but as a tribute to the Air Force’s discipline and skill.
Verified and On Record
All details about the sortie and the meeting are drawn from official, verified reports.
- Wing Commander Shivangi Singh serves as India’s only woman Rafale pilot with the No. 17 “Golden Arrows” Squadron at Ambala.
- President Droupadi Murmu undertook the Rafale sortie on October 29, 2025, after previously flying in a Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023.
- The President’s official statement described the experience as “unforgettable.”
A presidential sortie is more than a ceremonial gesture, it’s a statement of faith in the nation’s defenders. On this day at Ambala, that statement came with a deeper message: India’s skies belong to those with courage, precision, and commitment, regardless of gender.
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