President Murmu takes maiden sortie in Sukhoi-30 fighter jet

President Draupadi Murmu on Saturday took a sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.

The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for approximately 30 minutes covering Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley with a view of the Himalayas before returning to the Air Force Station, a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Naveen Kumar, Commanding Officer of the 106 Squadron. The aircraft flew at a height of about two kms above sea level and at a speed of about 800 kms per hour. President Murmu is the third President and second woman President to undertake such a sortie.

"Later in the visitor's book, the President expressed her feelings by writing a brief note in which she said "It was an exhilarating experience for me to fly in the mighty Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

It is a matter of pride that India's defence capabilities have expanded immensely to cover all the frontiers of land, air and sea. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station Tezpur for organising this sortie," the statement added.

The video of taking a sortie in the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft was shared by news agency ANI on Twitter. (check the clip below)

The President was also briefed on the operational capabilities of the aircraft and the Indian Air Force (IAF). She expressed satisfaction on the operational preparedness of the IAF.

The President's sortie in the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft is a part of her efforts to engage with the armed forces, as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. In March 2023, the President visited INS Vikrant and interacted with officers and sailors on board of the indigenously built aircraft.