Wing Commander Shivangi Singh, India’s only woman Rafale pilot, marked another milestone in Indian aviation history this week. She was part of a landmark moment when President Droupadi Murmu took a historic flight in the Rafale fighter jet from Ambala Air Force Station, the home of the Golden Arrows Squadron and India’s first Rafale fleet.
The sortie, lasting around 30 minutes, was piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron. Covering nearly 200 kilometres at a speed of 700 km/h and an altitude of 15,000 feet, the flight made President Murmu the first Indian head of state to fly in two fighter aircraft, the Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023, and now the Rafale.
After landing, President Murmu called the experience “unforgettable” and wrote in the station’s visitor book that the sortie had filled her with renewed pride in India’s defence capabilities.
From Varanasi to the Cockpit of a Rafale
Shivangi Singh’s story began in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Her fascination with flying took root during a childhood visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. That early spark eventually led her to Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where she graduated before joining the Indian Air Force Academy (AFA) in Hyderabad.
At the AFA, Shivangi underwent the rigorous training required to earn her wings as a fighter pilot, a demanding journey that combines precision, endurance, and mental discipline.
Breaking Barriers in the Skies
Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2017, Shivangi Singh was part of the second batch of women fighter pilots. She began her career flying the MiG-21 Bison, one of the toughest aircraft in the IAF’s fleet, a platform that tests every pilot’s skill and nerve.
Her ability and composure in the cockpit soon set her apart. In 2020, she was chosen for Rafale conversion training, an intensive process that included simulator drills, tactical combat instruction, and systems training with French aviation experts.
Mastering the Rafale
The Rafale is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter equipped with advanced technologies like the Thales RBE2 AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, and precision-strike weapons. Shivangi’s training focused on mastering these systems and integrating them into real-world mission profiles.
Her proficiency on the Rafale soon took her to the global stage. In 2023, she represented India at Exercise Orion in France, where the Indian Air Force trained alongside some of the world’s top air forces.
A Symbol of India’s Changing Skies
Today, Wing Commander Shivangi Singh stands as a symbol of determination and progress in India’s defence forces. Her journey from a young girl in Varanasi to the cockpit of one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets embodies the growing role of women in shaping India’s future in the skies.
