The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, is scheduled to undertake a sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft – Indian Air Force’s (IAF) newest combat platform, from Ambala Air Force Station on October 29.

The President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces will fly in a two-seater variant of the French-made aircraft with a hand-picked senior pilot at the controls. A briefing on the operational characteristics of the aircraft is also expected.

The Rafale was inducted into IAF in September 2020 with No.17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, at Ambala, which also happens to be IAF’s oldest airbase. IAF has two squadrons of this 4.5 generation fighter, which were reportedly employed during Operation Sindoor in May this year, the other being No.101 Squadron, the Falcons, based at Hasimar

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