Droupadi Murmu Undertakes Sortie in Indigenous LCH Prachand at Indian Air Force Station Jaisalmer

**New Delhi:**President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday undertook a sortie in India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand at Air Force Station Jaisalmer, marking another significant engagement with the country’s armed forces. The mission was conducted as a two-aircraft LCH formation. The President flew in the lead aircraft with Group Captain Nayan Shantilal Bahua, while Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Group Captain A. Mahendra flew in the second aircraft. The approximately 25-minute sortie covered key landmarks including Gadisar Lake and Jaisalmer Fort, and also involved engaging a tank target as part of the operational profile.

In a note written in the visitors’ book after the sortie, the President described the experience as enriching and expressed pride in the nation’s defence preparedness.

“The sortie in India's indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ is an enriching experience for me. This sortie has filled me with a renewed sense of pride in the nation's defence capabilities. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station Jaisalmer for successfully organising this sortie,” she wrote.

This marks the President’s third such high-profile military flight, following her sorties in the Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023 and the Rafale fighter jet in 2025. Later in the evening, the President is scheduled to witness the Indian Air Force’s Exercise Vayu Shakti at Jaisalmer, showcasing the force’s operational capabilities and combat readiness.

The event highlights India’s growing focus on indigenous defence manufacturing and operational preparedness.