Meet India’s first female fighter pilot to fly Rafale jet that unleashed hell on Pakistan, her name is…

The Indian Air Force (IAF) started recruiting women in its force in 1995.

India’s first female fighter pilot to fly Rafale: A little girl who dreamt of becoming a pilot is today flying high as the face of India’s rapidly modernising Air Force. Shivangi Singh has become the first woman to fly a Rafale fighter jet. It all started when Shivangi visited the Air Force Museum in New Delhi when she was a little girl. “That’s where my adventure started,” Singh said, recalling the moment when she was standing in the museum. According to Shivangi, she was left speechless by the sight of the fighter planes and “immediately decided that she would become a pilot.”

Notably, the Indian Air Force (IAF) started recruiting women in its force in 1995, however, they were allowed to fly fighter jets in 2015. “Many women like me have become fighter pilots. This not only shows the modernisation (of our society) but also shows that we can now fulfill our dreams,” Singh said.

Source of Inspiration

Shivangi Singh was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi. She was a bright student and excelled in both academics and sports. Her husband is also a fighter pilot. “My mother was a huge source of inspiration because she didn’t just want me to be educated, she wanted me to be self-reliant and she supported me in all my endeavours,” she said.

“Nervous And Worried”

In 2023, the Indian Air Force reported over 1,600 women officers, including numerous fighter pilots. Singh described initial apprehension during her first cockpit experience. She said she was “nervous and worried”, but recalled her solo flight as exhilarating.

When Shivangi flew the MiG-21 fighter jet for the first time, she realised “how much skill is required to gain control” of flying a fighter aircraft.

Weaving A New Dream

Shivangi Singh is among the first pilots to fly the new Rafale aircraft. After facing the rigorous selection process by the IAF, she was shortlisted for simulator training with French instructors in 2020. After completing her rigorous training she got the chance to fly Rafale fighter jet.