Jaisalmer’s desert skies witnessed a landmark event as President Droupadi Murmu boarded the Made-in-India Prachand helicopter for a special sortie during the Indian Air Force’s Vayu Shakti 2026. The February 27 flight, part of her visit to the massive war games, featured the President in pilot gear, flying formation with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.
The Prachand, a third-generation LCH, excels in high-altitude warfare with its lightweight design, armored cockpit, and integrated weapon suite. Tailored for India’s diverse topography, it can hover at 6,500 meters while packing rockets, missiles, and cannons. This presidential endorsement cements its role in bolstering national security.
Vayu Shakti 2026 dazzles with over 100 aircraft thundering through mock strikes, showcasing precision and power. Murmu’s flight amplifies the event’s significance, galvanizing the forces and spotlighting self-reliance.
President Murmu’s military odyssey includes a Rafale sortie from Ambala on October 29, a Sukhoi-30 flight from Tezpur in April 2023, and a historic submarine ride on INS Vagsheer in December from Karwar. There, with Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi, she explored stealth tech and combat systems—mirroring APJ Abdul Kalam’s precedent.
These ventures underscore a pattern: hands-on presidential validation of India’s defense prowess. As Atmanirbhar Bharat gains momentum, Murmu’s Prachand flight inspires innovation, honors service personnel, and projects India’s ascent as a defense manufacturing powerhouse.