President Murmu undertakes sortie in indigenous LCH Prachand at Jaisalmer

New Delhi, Feb 27: Droupadi Murmu on Friday undertook a sortie in the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand at Air Force Station Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The mission was flown in a two-aircraft LCH formation. The President flew in the lead aircraft with Group Captain Nayan Shantilal Bahua, while Chief of Air Staff AP Singh and Group Captain A. Mahendra piloted the second helicopter as Number 2.

During the approximately 25-minute sortie, the formation flew over Gadisar Lake and Jaisalmer Fort and carried out an attack on a tank target.

In a note written in the visitors’ book after the flight, President Murmu described the experience as “enriching” and said the sortie in India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter “Prachand” had 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. The President had earlier undertaken sorties in the Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023 and the Rafale fighter aircraft in 2025.