Draupadi Murmu became the first woman President to fly in fighter helicopter Prachanda, gave message of self-reliance from the sky

Jaisalmer, 27 February. Setting a record, Supreme Commander of India’s Armed Forces, President Draupadi Murmu on Friday conducted a special flight in the indigenously built light combat helicopter ‘Prachanda’. Actually, on Friday 27th February, the President was present in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Here she became a witness to the major exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’ of the Indian Air Force. On reaching here, President Draupadi Murmu took this special flight in the indigenous light combat helicopter ‘Prachanda’. During this time she was seen in flying helmet and flight dress.

It is noteworthy that the ‘Prachanda’ light combat helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. It has been specially designed to operate in difficult combat conditions. It can also fly in high altitude areas. This flight of the President in ‘Prachanda’ helicopter is being considered a symbol of the country’s progress towards indigenous defense capabilities and self-reliant India. This flight of the President was operated as a group of two ‘Prachanda’ helicopters. Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh was aboard the second helicopter.

Various fighter aircraft, helicopters and advanced weapon systems are showcasing their firepower and accuracy in the ‘Vayu Shakti 2026’ exercise organized by the Indian Air Force. The exercise is a major platform to showcase the country’s air power, strategic preparedness and professional proficiency. This historic flight of the President from such a military platform will further strengthen the morale of the armed forces. It also underlines the government’s commitment towards indigenous defense production. Earlier, President Draupadi Murmu had boarded the Indian Navy’s indigenously built Kalvari class submarine INS Waghshir during the month of December.

President Draupadi Murmu started this journey from Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka. That visit of the President was a powerful symbol of the capability of the Indian Navy and the defense construction program of self-reliant India. Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi was present with the President in that special operation. The President was informed about the operational capability, stealth features and weapon systems of this Navy submarine. Besides, he was also given detailed information about the Indian Navy’s Underwater Warfare Network. This sortie is historic in many ways.

Actually, this was the first visit of President Draupadi Murmu on a Kalvari class submarine. She is the second President to do so in Indian history. Before him, former President and Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam did a sortie on a submarine. At the end of October, President Draupadi Murmu flew in the Air Force’s fighter plane ‘Rafale’. With this he had established a new record. The President reached the Air Force Station in Ambala, Haryana on Wednesday, 29 October.

Here he flew a sortie in the Air Force’s state-of-the-art fighter aircraft ‘Rafale’. During this, the President also wore fighter pilot suit and all other necessary equipment. It is noteworthy that this was not the first time that President Draupadi Murmu had boarded a fighter jet of the Indian Air Force. Earlier, President Draupadi Murmu had flown in Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter plane at Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam on 8 April 2023.

At that time, while sharing his experience with the pilots of the Indian Air Force, he appreciated the efficiency, discipline and dedication of the Air Force. Defense experts believe that this flight of the President in the Indian Air Force’s fighter aircraft Rafale, Sukhoi-30, Navy’s submarine INS Waghshir and now the indigenously built light combat helicopter ‘Prachanda’ is a symbol of the modernity, capability of the Indian forces and the defense efforts of self-reliant India. On Friday, when President Murmu flew in the Prachanda helicopter, the Air Force Chief and senior officers were present there. Through this sortie, the President saluted the valor, technical efficiency and air power of the Indian Air Force.