On October 29, 2025, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, took a sortie in a Rafale aircraft at Air Force Station, Ambala, Haryana. Posted on the 29th of October at 1:18PM by PIB Delhi, she is the first President of India to have taken a sortie in two fighter aircrafts of the Indian Air Force. Earlier, she took a sortie in Sukhoi 30 MKI in 2023. The flight lasted approximately 30 minutes and covered about 200 kilometers. The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron, at a height of about 15000 ft above sea level and at a speed of about 700 kilometers per hour. The President expressed delight and pride in the nation's defence capabilities after the flight in the visitor's book. Air Force Station, Ambala is the first Air Force Station where Rafale aircrafts arrived from Dassault Aviation Facility, France. Release ID: 2183675, visitor counter: 3155.
Key Entities Referenced
Rafale aircraft: French-origin multirole fighter aircraft used by the Indian Air Force, central to the event described.
Indian Air Force: The military aviation branch responsible for operating the Rafale aircraft.
Ambala (Haryana): Location where the President's sortie took place.
Droupadi Murmu: President of India who took a sortie on the Rafale aircraft.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA TAKES A SORTIE IN A
RAFALE AIRCRAFT AT AMBALA
THE FIRST FLIGHT ON THE POTENT RAFALE AIRCRAFT
HAS INSTILLED IN ME A RENEWED SENSE OF PRIDE IN
THE NATION'S DEFENCE CAPABILITIES: PRESIDENT
DROUPADI MURMU
Posted On: 29 OCT 2025 1:18PM by PIB Delhi
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu took a sortie in a Rafale aircraft at Air Force Station,
Ambala (Haryana) today (October 29, 2025). She is the first President of India to have taken sortie in
two fighter aircrafts of the Indian Air Force. Earlier, she took a sortie in Sukhoi 30 MKI in 2023.
Air Force Station, Ambala is the first Air Force Station where Rafale aircrafts arrived from Dassault
Aviation Facility, France.The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for approximately
30 minutes covering about 200 kilometers before returning to the Air Force Station. The aircraft was
flown by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron. The aircraft flew at
a height of about 15000 ft above sea level and at a speed of about 700 kilometers per hour.
Later in the visitor’s book, the President expressed her feelings by writing a brief note in which she
said "I am delighted to visit Air Force Station Ambala for my maiden flight on Rafale aircraft of the
Indian Air Force. The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight on thepotent 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.”
The President was also briefed on the operational capabilities of Rafale and the Indian Air Force.
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MJPS/SR
(Release ID: 2183675) Visitor Counter : 3155
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