President Droupadi Murmu made a historic flight in a Rafale fighter jet at the Indian Air Force Station in Ambala, Haryana, on Thursday. This event marks her second sortie in a combat aircraft, following her earlier flight in a Sukhoi-30 MKI in April 2023. The President was welcomed with a guard of honour before her flight, which was attended by Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and other officials.

The Rafale jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, were officially inducted into the Indian Air Force in September 2020. They played a significant role in Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7, 2023, in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. This operation targeted terror infrastructure in areas controlled by Pakistan and resulted in four days of intense military engagement, concluding with a ceasefire agreement on May 10.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan had announced the President's visit to Ambala, stating, "The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, will visit Ambala, Haryana tomorrow where she will take a sortie in Rafale." Former Presidents A P J Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had also flown in Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft during their tenures, highlighting the tradition of Indian leaders engaging with the armed forces. This sortie underscores President Murmu's role as the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces and her commitment to strengthening ties with the military.