Who Is Shivangi Singh? Trailblazing Rafale Pilot Who Flew With President Murmu At Ambala

Last Updated:October 29, 2025, 16:51 IST

Wing Commander Shivangi Singh, India’s only woman Rafale pilot, witnessed President Droupadi Murmu’s historic Rafale sortie at Ambala.

President Droupadi Murmu with Shivangi Singh.

Wing Commander Shivangi Singh, India’s only woman Rafale pilot, was part of a landmark moment on Wednesday as President Droupadi Murmu undertook a historic sortie in the French-made fighter jet from the Ambala Air Force Station- home to the first fleet of India’s advanced combat aircraft and the elite Golden Arrows Squadron.

President Droupadi Murmu, the first Indian head of state to fly in two fighter aircraft- the Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023 and now the Rafale- described the flight as “unforgettable," saying it filled her with renewed pride in India’s defence capabilities. The 30-minute sortie, piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron, covered nearly 200 kilometres at an altitude of 15,000 feet and a speed of about 700 km/h.

Following the flight, President Droupadi Murmu wrote in the station’s visitor book, “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."

Who Is Shivangi Singh?

Hailing from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Wing Commander Shivangi Singh developed a fascination for aviation after a childhood visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. A graduate of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), she later joined the Indian Air Force Academy (AFA) in Hyderabad, where she underwent intensive training to become a fighter pilot.

Read more: IAF Pilot Shivangi Singh, Who Pakistan Once Claimed Was Captured, Poses With President Murmu

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2017 as part of the second batch of women fighter pilots, Shivangi Singh began her career flying the MiG-21 Bison, one of the IAF’s most demanding aircraft.

In 2020, she was selected for Rafale conversion training, which included advanced simulator sessions and tactical instruction from French experts. Her training focused on mastering the jet’s cutting-edge systems, including the Thales RBE2 AESA radar and precision-strike capabilities that define the Rafale’s reputation as a 4.5-generation fighter.

Shivangi Singh represented the country at Exercise Orion 2023 in France, where the IAF participated alongside leading global air forces.

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