On February 27, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu undertook a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter PRACHAND at Air Force Station Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The mission was a two-aircraft LCH formation, with President Murmu in the lead aircraft piloted by Gp Capt Nayan Shantilal Bahua. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Gp Capt A Mahendra flew as Number 2 in the second aircraft. The 25-minute mission included flying over Gadisar Lake and Jaisalmer Fort and attacking a tank target. President Murmu previously undertook sorties in Sukhoi 30 MKI (2023) and Rafale (2025). Later, the President noted in the visitor's book that the sortie in the Prachand was an enriching experience and expressed pride in the nation's defence capabilities, and congratulated the Indian Air Force and the team at Air Force Station Jaisalmer. In the evening, the President witnessed the Indian Air Force's Exercise Vayu Shakti at Jaisalmer. This information was posted by PIB Delhi. Release ID is 2233419.
Key Entities Referenced
Light Combat Helicopter PRACHAND: Indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) featured in the presidential sortie
Droupadi Murmu: The President of India who undertook the sortie.
Air Force Station Jaisalmer: Location of the sortie and the Air Force team that organised it.
Indian Air Force: The air force branch involved in the sortie and Exercise Vayu Shakti.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA UNDERTAKES A SORTIE
IN THE INDIGENOUS LIGHT COMBAT
HELICOPTER PRACHAND AT AIR FORCE
STATION JAISALMER
SORTIE IN PRACHAND HAS FILLED ME WITH A RENEWED
SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE NATION'S DEFENCE
CAPABILITIES: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU
Posted On: 27 FEB 2026 12:39PM by PIB Delhi
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu undertook a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat
Helicopter PRACHAND at Air Force Station Jaisalmer, Rajasthan today (February 27, 2026). Earlier, she
undertook sorties in Sukhoi 30 MKI and Rafale in 2023 and 2025, respectively.
The mission was undertaken as a two-aircraft LCH formation. President Droupadi Murmu flew in the lead
aircraft with Gp Capt Nayan Shantilal Bahua, while Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and
Gp Capt A Mahendra flew as Number 2 in the second aircraft. During the approximately 25-minutemission, they flew over Gadisar Lake and Jaisalmer Fort and attacked a Tank Target.
Later in the visitor’s book, the President expressed her feelings by writing a brief note in which she said,
“The sortie in India's indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter 'Prachand' is an enriching
experience for me. This sortie has filled me with 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 Jaisalmer for
successfully organising this sortie”.
In the evening, the President will witness the Indian Air Force's Exercise Vayu Shakti at Jaisalmer.***
MJPS/PKK
(Release ID: 2233419) Visitor Counter : 1309
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