Ambala – President Droupadi Murmu‘s visit to the Ambala airbase on Wednesday morning, where she flew in a Rafale fighter jet and posed with Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, carried far more significance than a routine photo opportunity. The President Murmu Rafale pilot interaction delivered a pointed diplomatic message to Pakistan, particularly given Islamabad’s false claims about capturing the same pilot during India’s military operation in May 2025.
President Murmu Rafale Pilot Squadron Leader Singh Tour
The President Murmu Rafale pilot meeting showcased Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, a Varanasi-born officer who gave the President a comprehensive tour of the new Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft at the Indian Air Force base in Haryana. This public interaction directly countered Pakistan’s propaganda narrative from earlier this year, when Islamabad claimed to have captured Singh during Operation Sindoor.
The deliberate choice to highlight the President Murmu Rafale pilot encounter through official photographs and statements underscored India’s commitment to exposing Pakistan’s disinformation campaigns and celebrating its defense capabilities.
Pakistan’s False Claims During Operation Sindoor
The significance of the President Murmu Rafale pilot photograph becomes clear when examining Pakistan’s propaganda efforts during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. When India launched this military response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba that killed 26 people, Islamabad’s narrative-spinners and media outlets falsely claimed to have captured Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, who pilots Rafale aircraft.
These claims immediately proved to be fabricated, representing yet another instance of Pakistan’s attempts to control the narrative through disinformation. The President Murmu Rafale pilot meeting on October 29 served as a definitive rebuttal to these false assertions.
Pakistan’s Elaborate Propaganda Campaign
During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s false claims extended beyond the President Murmu Rafale pilot narrative that would later be publicly refuted. Islamabad’s propaganda machine alleged that it had downed Indian jets, including Rafale aircraft, and was holding Indian soldiers as “prisoners of war.” These sweeping claims were designed to project strength and salvage national pride following India’s successful military strikes.
The Indian military and the Narendra Modi government systematically dismantled these claims, providing concrete evidence that contradicted Pakistan’s version of events. The subsequent President Murmu Rafale pilot photograph served as a visual reminder of Pakistan’s credibility deficit on military matters.
India’s Response to Pakistani Disinformation
Indian authorities countered Pakistan’s propaganda by providing comprehensive data and visual evidence demonstrating the actual outcome of Operation Sindoor. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh revealed that Pakistan’s losses included six aircraft: four US-made F-16 fighter jets and two China-provided JF-17 fighter jets. This disclosure, combined with the later President Murmu Rafale pilot public appearance, effectively demolished Pakistan’s false narrative.
India emphasized that after sending a strong message by neutralizing a large number of terrorists, it chose to effect a truce upon Pakistan’s request, demonstrating both military capability and diplomatic maturity.
President Murmu’s Historic Rafale Flight
The President Murmu Rafale pilot story reached its culmination when Supreme Commander Murmu actually flew in a Rafale fighter jet on Wednesday. The sortie, piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, saw Air Chief Marshal Singh simultaneously piloting a separate Rafale aircraft, leading a formation that demonstrated India’s aerial capabilities.
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President Murmu waved from inside the jet before the aircraft took off at 11:27 AM. The sortie lasted approximately 30 minutes, covering about 200 kilometers before returning to the Air Force Station. The fighter jet flew at a height of about 15,000 feet above sea level at a speed of approximately 700 kilometers per hour, according to a statement from the President’s office.
President’s Reflections on Defense Capabilities
Following the flight, the President Murmu Rafale pilot experience drew enthusiastic praise from the Supreme Commander. “The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight on the potent Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities,” President Murmu stated through her official account.
She congratulated the Indian Air Force and the entire team at Air Force Station Ambala for successfully organizing the sortie, highlighting the professionalism and capability of India’s military aviation forces.
Historical Context of Presidential Flights
The President Murmu Rafale pilot sortie represents the second time the President has experienced frontline Indian military aircraft. Earlier, on April 8, 2023, President Murmu flew in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet from Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam, demonstrating her commitment to understanding and showcasing India’s defense capabilities firsthand.
These presidential flights serve multiple purposes: boosting military morale, demonstrating civilian control of the armed forces, and projecting India’s defense strength to both domestic and international audiences.
Strategic Messaging Through Military Diplomacy
The President Murmu Rafale pilot photograph and flight experience represent sophisticated strategic messaging. By publicly highlighting Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh’s role and the President’s confidence in India’s Rafale capabilities, New Delhi sent an unmistakable message to Pakistan: disinformation campaigns will be systematically exposed and countered with facts.
The timing of this event, months after Operation Sindoor, demonstrates India’s deliberate approach to narrative control in military affairs. Rather than engaging in immediate tit-for-tat propaganda exchanges, India chose to respond through substantive demonstrations of capability and truth.
Significance for India’s Defense Posture
The President Murmu Rafale pilot event underscores India’s growing confidence in its military modernization and its willingness to publicly showcase advanced capabilities. The Rafale multi-role fighter represents a significant enhancement to India’s air power, and the President’s personal experience with the aircraft sends a powerful message about national resolve and military readiness.
As India continues to face security challenges from hostile neighbors, such displays of capability combined with effective counter-propaganda efforts strengthen national deterrence while building public confidence in defense institutions.
