President Droupadi Murmu to Fly in Indigenous LCH Prachand at Jaisalmer Air Force Station

On Friday morning, President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to participate in a flight aboard the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), HAL Prachand, at the Jaisalmer Air Force Station. This event is a part of her official visit to Rajasthan.

Upon her arrival in Jaisalmer on Thursday evening, President Murmu, who holds the position of Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, will be welcomed by Haribhau Bagade and Bhajanlal Sharma. According to defense sources, one of the key highlights of her visit will be her flight in the Prachand.

The LCH Prachand, crafted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, stands as India's first combat helicopter to be designed and developed domestically. It is built to operate effectively across various terrains, from desert landscapes to high-altitude areas, being capable of performing at altitudes over 5,000 metres. This makes it particularly suitable for deployment along mountainous borders. The helicopter is equipped with advanced avionics, stealth features, night-attack capabilities, and a range of weaponry, including air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, rockets, and a 20 mm gun, enhancing India's combat operations significantly.

Later in the evening, President Murmu will attend the Indian Air Force's large-scale firepower demonstration, Vayu Shakti, held at the Pokhran Field Firing Range near the India-Pakistan border. This event will feature coordinated operations from day to night in a simulated combat setting, involving frontline fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, and air defense systems.

President Murmu's flight in the Prachand is part of her ongoing interaction with leading military platforms. In 2023, she flew in a Sukhoi-30 MKI at Tezpur, and in 2025, she took a sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft at Ambala, marking her as the first Indian President to fly in multiple leading fighter jets of the Indian Air Force.

This visit highlights the country's confidence in its indigenous defense capabilities and underscores the increasing importance of domestically developed platforms in fortifying India's military readiness.