From the MiG-21 to the Rafale... she defeated the enemy, even Pakistan had to lie; the story of Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh

News Topical, Digital Desk : On Wednesday, October 29, President Draupadi Murmu met Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh at the Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana. During the meeting, she also flew a Rafale with Singh. Singh is the same fighter pilot about whom Pakistan falsely claimed responsibility during Operation Sindoor.

Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is part of the second batch of Indian women fighter pilots. She is also the first woman pilot to fly the new French-built Rafale fighter jet.

Shivangi is the first woman pilot to fly Rafale

Shivani Singh was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. She is currently part of the 17th Squadron, "Golden Arrows," stationed in Ambala, Haryana. Singh will also go down in history as a pilot whose capture was lied to by Pakistan. During Operation Sindhu, Pakistan claimed that Singh's Rafale was shot down and she was taken captive.

The Indian government had already dismissed Pakistan's false claim on May 10th. However, these claims were completely dispelled after Squadron Leader Singh posed for a photo with President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday afternoon. This claim was further strengthened by the Rafale aircraft standing behind him.

The journey from MiG-21 to Rafale

Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh's journey to the Rafale cockpit began eight years ago with her commissioning into the Indian Air Force. Singh's journey began with intense physical and mental training, including hours of intense study of aerial combat tactics and fighter aircraft engineering. After being commissioned into the Air Force in 2017, Singh flew her first fighter aircraft, the MiG-21 Bison. However, the MiG-21 is no longer part of the Indian Air Force. It was retired on September 6, 2025, and replaced by the Rafale.

Singh's connection with Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman

In 2017, while training at a border base in Rajasthan, Singh flew with then-Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman, who was the hero of the 2019 Balakot airstrike. 

The Group Captain had shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet, a US-made fighter jet, in a MiG-21 on February 27 during the Balakot airstrike, which was India's military response to the Pulwama terrorist attack 13 days earlier.

Unfortunately, during this air battle, his plane crashed over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, forcing him to land in enemy-controlled territory. He was captured and spent approximately 60 hours in enemy captivity. Ultimately, under intense pressure from India, Pakistan released him.

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