President Droupadi Murmu on Friday undertook a sortie in the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand at Air Force Station Jaisalmer.
The mission was carried out in a two-aircraft LCH formation. The President flew in the lead aircraft alongside Group Captain Nayan Shantilal Bahua. The second aircraft was flown by Chief of Air Staff AP Singh and Group Captain A. Mahendra.
During the approximately 25-minute sortie, the helicopters flew over prominent landmarks including Gadisar Lake and Jaisalmer Fort, and carried out an attack on a designated tank target as part of the operational demonstration.
Following the sortie, President Murmu recorded her remarks in the visitors’ book, describing the experience as enriching. She wrote that flying in India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter Prachand filled her with a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities. She congratulated the Indian Air Force and the entire team at Air Force Station Jaisalmer for successfully organising the mission.
This is not the first time the President has flown in frontline combat aircraft. She had earlier undertaken sorties in the Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023 and the Rafale fighter jet in 2025.
