Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, the first female Rafale pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), embarks on a new mission, training future fighter pilots. Now part of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer fleet, she is set to impart her valuable knowledge.
This transition underscores her role in debunking Pakistan's deceptive claims. During Operation Sindur, Pakistan falsely asserted Shivangi's capture. Recently, images of her graduation went viral, illustrating her active and secure status.
Born in Varanasi, Shivangi became part of the IAF in 2017, belonging to the second batch of female fighter pilots. Initially piloting the challenging MiG-21 Bison jet, she was selected for Rafale training after clearing competitive exams in 2020, training alongside French instructors and mastering high-tech systems such as the Thales RBE2 AESA radar.
Source: aajtak
Stationed at the Golden Arrows Squadron (17 Squadron) in Ambala Air Force Station, she executed high-intensity missions and large-scale exercises with remarkable professionalism, including operational sorties over Eastern Ladakh and the LAC. In 2023, she represented India in France during Exercise Orion, marking Rafale's first international deployment, establishing a formidable reputation in the fighter stream.
Operation Sindur, conducted from May 7-10, 2025, was India's strategic response to the tragic murder of 26 civilians in Pahalgam. The IAF's precision-targeted missile strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan demonstrated its resolve. Shivangi played a pivotal role in this operation.
However, Pakistan's media, led by ISPR, circulated false narratives: Rafale downed, Shivangi captured near Sialkot, with old images from the 2023 Kiran jet crash. Even a video falsely depicted the IAF Chief meeting her family, actually showing Sergeant Surendra Kumar's family.
The Indian government dispelled these myths on May 10, affirming all pilots' safety. The IAF Chief, at a recent press conference, urged the public to ignore Pakistan's 'fabricated stories'.
Source: aajtak
In October 2025, Shivangi graduated from the Flying Instructor School (FIS) in Tambaram (Chennai) after completing the 159th Qualified Flying Instructor Course, one of the Army's most rigorous aviation courses. During the valedictory ceremony on October 9, Air Marshal Tejbir Singh awarded the QFI badges. The course saw awards given to 59 officers from IAF and allied forces.
Now mentoring at a premier training unit, she trains aspiring fighter pilots on the Hawk jet trainer, leveraging her diverse experience from MiG-21 to Rafale to groom the next generation.
In October 2025, President Droupadi Murmu celebrated Shivangi's achievements by flying a Rafale sortie at Ambala Air Force Station – a presidential first. Their smiles before the Rafale doubled as India's emphatic rebuttal to Pakistan's assertions, with the President applauding Shivangi's contribution to the IAF's legacy.
