President Droupadi Murmu Flies in LCH Prachand Near India–Pakistan Border

First Indian President to Undertake Sortie in Indigenous Attack Helicopter

Droupadi Murmu became the first Indian President to undertake a sortie in an attack helicopter, flying aboard the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter Prachand near the India–Pakistan border in Rajasthan. The 25-minute flight was conducted from Jaisalmer Air Force Station, reflecting her role as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and her continued engagement with frontline defence platforms.

Historic Flight Over Strategic Terrain

Wearing a standard flying suit and helmet, the President flew as co-pilot after receiving a technical briefing from Indian Air Force personnel. The helicopter operated over the Pokhran firing range, a key site for the IAF’s ‘Vayu Shakti’ firepower exercise. During the sortie, she commended the armed forces and highlighted India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Indigenous Combat Capability

The LCH Prachand, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited , is India’s first home-grown attack helicopter. Engineered for high-altitude warfare, it features advanced avionics, night-attack capability, stealth characteristics, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, rockets and a 20 mm turret gun. Its induction enhances operational readiness, particularly in mountainous and border regions.

Continued Engagement with Combat Platforms

This sortie adds to President Murmu’s previous flights in a Sukhoi-30 MKI at Tezpur in April 2023 and a Rafale fighter aircraft at Ambala in October 2023. Her participation symbolises active civilian oversight and confidence in India’s modern combat assets.

Important Facts for Exams

• LCH Prachand is India’s first indigenously designed attack helicopter.

• HAL is the manufacturer of the LCH.

• Pokhran in Rajasthan is a major military testing and firing range.

• ‘Vayu Shakti’ showcases the Indian Air Force’s operational capabilities.

The sortie underscores India’s emphasis on indigenous defence production and operational preparedness in strategically sensitive areas.