Ambala, Haryana: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday undertook a historic sortie in a Rafale fighter jet at the Ambala Air Force Station, becoming the first woman President of India to fly in the country’s most advanced combat aircraft.

The President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, was received at the airbase by senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officials and briefed about the Rafale’s capabilities and role in India’s air defence.

Droupadi Murmu donned a G-suit and flight helmet before boarding the twin-seater Rafale trainer aircraft.

Air Chief Marshal A P Singh was among others present on the occasion.

"The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, will visit Ambala, Haryana tomorrow where she will take a sortie in Rafale," a statement issued on Tuesday by the Rashtrapati Bhavan had said.

On April 8, 2023, Murmu, the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces, became the third President and second woman head of the state to take a sortie in Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station, Assam.

Former presidents A P J Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had undertaken sorties in Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Air Force Station, Lohegaon near Pune on June 8, 2006 and November 25, 2009, respectively.

Manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, Rafale fighter aircraft were formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in September 2020 at the Air Force Station, Ambala.

The first five Rafale aircraft, which had arrived from France on July 27, 2020, were inducted in 17 Squadron, the 'Golden Arrows'.