In a momentous display of India’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing, President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, embarked on a pioneering flight aboard the homegrown Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand on Friday. The event unfolded at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, where the President was attending the Indian Air Force’s marquee exercise, Vayu Shakti 2026.
Dressed in a flying helmet and flight suit, President Murmu soared through the skies in a formation of two Prachand helicopters. Accompanying her in the second chopper was Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the Chief of Air Staff. This sortie not only highlighted the helicopter’s cutting-edge capabilities but also underscored the nation’s strides towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in military aviation.
The Prachand LCH is engineered for high-altitude operations and demanding combat scenarios, boasting advanced avionics, stealth features, and potent weaponry. Capable of operating in the world’s highest battlefields, it represents a technological leap for the Indian military. Experts view this presidential flight as a powerful endorsement of indigenous innovation, boosting morale across the armed forces.
This isn’t the first time President Murmu has taken to the skies or seas in cutting-edge military platforms. Just months ago, in late October, she flew in a Rafale fighter jet from Ambala Air Force Station, donning full pilot gear. Earlier, on April 8, 2023, she experienced a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI at Tezpur. In December, she became the second Indian President after Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to board a Kalvari-class submarine, INS Vagsheer, from Karwar, where Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi briefed her on its stealth and underwater warfare prowess.
The Vayu Shakti exercise serves as a grand showcase of India’s air power, with fighter jets, helicopters, and precision weapons demonstrating lethal accuracy. President Murmu’s participation in such platforms signals the government’s unwavering commitment to self-reliant defense production. Her flights across air, land, and sea assets symbolize the modernity and readiness of India’s armed forces, inspiring a new era of strategic autonomy.