New Delhi – Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, India’s first and only woman to fly the Rafale fighter jet, is now looking to chart a new course — into space. The 29-year-old Indian Air Force officer, known for breaking barriers in combat aviation, has expressed her ambition to join India’s upcoming manned space mission as an astronaut.
Her journey into the skies began as a child when she visited the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. “That’s where my dream took flight,” she said, recalling how the sight of fighter jets sparked a lifelong ambition.
Shivangi was commissioned into the IAF after combat roles were opened to women in 2015. She trained rigorously, including simulator sessions with French instructors, before becoming the first woman to fly the French-made Rafale jet in 2020.
A native of Varanasi, she credits her family—especially her mother—for shaping her confidence and independence. “My mother didn’t just want me to study, she wanted me to stand on my own feet,” Shivangi said.
Married to a fellow fighter pilot, she remains active in India’s frontline air defence operations. Her aspirations, however, have grown beyond Earth’s atmosphere. She has applied for test pilot training, which could pave the way for her selection into the Indian space program.
“Flying a Rafale was once considered impossible for a woman. I’ve done that. Now I want to reach space,” she said boldly.
Her story reflects a wider shift in the Indian military, where over 1,600 women now serve in the Air Force, many in command and combat roles. With India expanding its Rafale fleet and investing heavily in space missions, Shivangi Singh’s ambition symbolizes a new era of inclusive aerospace leadership.
