Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh: India’s First Woman Rafale Fighter Pilot

In a time when women are redefining battlefield rules, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is a strong witness to India’s defence modernisation and gender integration. Hailing from the holy city of Varanasi, Shivangi Singh is the first Indian woman to pilot the Rafale fighter jet, and now she aspires to be an astronaut. Her path from awestruck youth touring an air force museum to piloting one of the globe’s most advanced fighter planes is nothing less than inspiring.

Shivangi Singh: India’s First Woman Rafale Fighter Pilot

Shivangi Singh becomes the first Indian woman to pilot the Rafale fighter jet, marking a new era for the Indian Air Force. From Varanasi, she became an IAF recruit in 2017 and was earlier flying the MiG-21 Bison. After intense training, she was inducted into the prestigious 17 Squadron and flew the advanced French-made Rafale. Singh was involved in high-risk operations such as Operation Sindoor in 2025. Inspired by her mother and ambitious, she now dreams of becoming an astronaut, showing that Indian women can shatter glass ceilings in even the most demanding fields, such as combat aviation and space.

Early Life and Education Of Shivangi Singh

Shivangi Singh was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi in a family that believed in education and empowerment. She had a strange interest in aircraft from an early age. During a childhood trip to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi, she was impressed forever. “That’s where my adventure began,” she recalled while speaking with AFP in an interview, remembering how she gazed at the machines that reached for the sky.
She further pursued her graduation from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and concurrently enrolled in the National Cadet Corps (NCC), wherein she gained discipline, leadership qualities, and appreciation for military life. Her academic record and NCC performance paved the way for her induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) via the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT).

Joining the Indian Air Force

In 2017, upon graduating from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Shivangi Singh graduated into the Indian Air Force Academy (AFA) in Hyderabad. It was here that she started her rigorous training to become a fighter pilot. Women were only integrated into the IAF’s fighter pilot scheme in 2015, so Shivangi was among the first women to embark on this highly challenging vocation.
Shivangi excelled in her training, having a unique flair for operating tricky planes and hot spots. First trained on the MiG-21 Bison, Shivangi displayed brilliant skill and persistence. But there was more for her—the first woman ever, she was picked for Rafale fighter plane training, considered the most modern and advanced in the world.

Rafale Fighter Pilot: A Milestone Achievement

In 2020, Shivangi was chosen to undergo Rafale-specific training and became the first Indian woman to pilot the Rafale jet. The training was a thorough one with French trainers in the simulator, where she mastered the aircraft’s advanced avionics, radar, and weaponry. The Rafale is a multirole fighter plane famous for its Thales RBE2 AESA radar, SCALP missiles, and HAMMER bombs, making it a valuable asset in contemporary warfare.
Her meticulous training prepared her for complex missions, and she soon joined the Golden Arrows Squadron in Ambala, which operates the Rafale jets. With over 1,600 women officers serving in the IAF as of 2023, Shivangi’s remarkable achievement has become a beacon of hope for women in aviation, proving that women can excel in combat roles traditionally reserved for men.

Operation Sindoor: A Combat Veteran in Action

In May 2025, Singh debuted as a combatant with the Golden Arrows Squadron in Operation Sindoor. The operation was undertaken by India as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians, including 25 Indian citizens, were killed. The operation consisted of targeted air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Singh piloted one of the sophisticated Rafale aircraft, carrying SCALP missiles and HAMMER bombs, on one of India’s most risky air missions in years.

Women’s participation in such senior-level operations marks a milestone for India’s military and is a sign of the increased roles women play on the battlefield.

Inspiration and Role Model for Women in Aviation

Shivangi Singh’s success is not only about her own accomplishments; it symbolizes a broader change in the women’s role in military aviation. When women were first integrated into the IAF as fighter pilots in 2015, it was a milestone in history. Shivangi, however, has carried this legacy further, breaking barriers and inspiring other women aviators to follow.
Her path from small-town girl to the cockpit of one of the world’s most sophisticated fighter planes is inspiring. Singh has become a model for millions of young women who aspire to break free from societal restrictions and excel in male-dominated areas.

Legacy

Shivangi Singh‘s tale is one of guts, conviction, and ongoing growth. As India’s first lady Rafale pilot, a fighting aviator, and an astronaut aspirant of the future, she is an inspiration to the nation. From being a question-asking child in Varanasi to being a frontline fighter and space cadet, she represents the ethos of New India—daring, empowered, and boundless.
As increasingly young women turn their gaze towards the heavens and beyond, Shivangi Singh’s legacy will be a shining beacon for future generations.

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