President Droupadi Murmu on Friday created history by becoming the first Indian President to fly in an attack helicopter. She took a 25-minute sortie as co-pilot in the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand’ near the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. With this flight, she added another important milestone to her engagements with frontline military platforms as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Clad in an olive-green flying suit and helmet, President Murmu arrived at the Jaisalmer Air Force Station, where she was welcomed by Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal A P Singh. Before the flight, she was briefed by the captain about the helicopter and the sortie. According to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the helicopter took off from the Jaisalmer Air Force Station after the president received the necessary briefing. Just before departure, she waved from the cockpit, acknowledging those present at the airbase.

During the flight, President Murmu delivered a message to the nation directly from the cockpit of the helicopter. She said, “Prachand helicopter is a powerful symbol of self-reliance. At this moment, I am flying over the Jaisalmer district. I extend my heartfelt greetings and deepest gratitude to our brave soldiers. A warm salute to you, Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.” Her message highlighted the importance of indigenous defence production and expressed appreciation for the country’s armed forces.

The helicopter flew over the Pokharan firing range, where the IAF is scheduled to conduct its firepower demonstration, ‘Vayu Shakti’, later in the evening. President Murmu is set to witness the day-dusk-night demonstration, which showcases the strength and operational capability of the Indian Air Force. The sortie over the firing range underlined the importance of the event and the president’s close engagement with the armed forces.

With this flight in the LCH Prachand, President Murmu became the first Indian President to have flown in an attack helicopter. This sortie adds to her previous experiences with fighter aircraft of the IAF. In October last year, she undertook a sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft at the Air Force Station in Ambala, becoming the first Indian President to have flown in two different fighter aircraft of the IAF.

Earlier, in April 2023, she had taken a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam. During that flight, she flew for about 30 minutes over the Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley and also had a view of the Himalayas. These experiences reflect her continued involvement with India’s frontline defence platforms.

The Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter. It has been built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The helicopter is equipped with advanced avionics, stealth features, and night-attack capability. It carries a powerful set of weapons, including air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, rockets, and a 20 mm gun. These features significantly enhance the combat capability of the Indian Air Force, especially in challenging terrains and high-altitude areas.

The name ‘Prachand’, which translates to fierce, reflects the helicopter’s strength and power. The aircraft was formally inducted into the IAF in October 2022 at the Jodhpur Air Force Station. At that time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also undertaken a sortie in the Prachand during the induction ceremony. The induction marked a major step in strengthening India’s defence capabilities and promoting self-reliance in military technology.

President Murmu’s latest sortie once again highlights the growing role of indigenous defence equipment in India’s armed forces. Her participation in such flights sends a strong message about confidence in Indian-made military platforms. By flying in the Prachand near the India-Pakistan border and over the Pokharan firing range, she not only marked a personal milestone but also underlined the importance of preparedness and strength in national defence.

This historic flight adds to President Murmu’s record as the first Indian President to fly in multiple frontline aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Her engagement with these advanced platforms shows her support for the armed forces and India’s efforts toward self-reliance in defence production.