In a symbolic move underscoring her role as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, President Murmu took a sortie in a Dassault Rafale jet on October 29 2025 — the same type of aircraft deployed during India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan’s air-force assets.
Key Details of the Flight
- On October 29 at the Air Force Station Ambala in Haryana, President Murmu undertook a sortie in the Rafale fighter aircraft, becoming the first Indian President to fly in the Rafale from this base.
- Earlier, she had flown in a Su-30 MKI fighter in 2023, making this her second fighter-jet sortie.
- The Rafale jets, inducted by the Indian Air Force in 2020, played a significant role in Operation Sindoor. She flew in the same aircraft type.
Why This Sortie Matters
- The President of India serves as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and a sortie in a front-line fighter showcases ceremonial and strategic alignment with the defence establishment.
- The choice of Rafale adds symbolic weight — these jet-fighters represent India’s modern air-power and were key in Operation Sindoor, which targeted Pakistan Air Force infrastructure.
- The flight reinforces India’s projection of air-strike capability and serves as a message of deterrence, especially in light of regional security dynamics.
- It also serves domestic-symbolic value: for the public and service personnel, the gesture highlights continuity of leadership and modernisation of the armed forces.
Context & Background
- The Rafale combat aircraft, built by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, were officially inducted into the IAF in 2020.
- Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, involved Rafale jets in strikes on Pakistan-based targets. Given that link, the President’s sortie ties into recent military history and India’s strike readiness.
- The visit and sortie occurred at a time when India is emphasising indigenous defence production, air-force modernisation, and strategic autonomy — all themes echoed by this event.
What to Watch Going Forward
- Will the IAF or the government use this occasion to announce new procurements, induction timelines, or policy shifts on fighter-jet basing or exports?
- Might there be public messaging or exhibitions at Ambala or elsewhere, leveraging the President’s sortie for defence-public-interface engagement?
- Whether this event contributes to morale-building initiatives for the IAF and armed forces, especially ahead of service anniversaries or recruitment drives.
- Monitoring how media, opposition parties or defence analysts interpret this move — whether purely ceremonial or signalling deeper strategic posture.
