The excited little girl who first touched a plane two decades ago is now flying high as the face of India's fast-modernising military and its only woman Rafale fighter pilot.
"As a child, this marked the start of my journey," said Shivangi Singh, 29, reminiscing about her initial visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. She recalled how she was captivated during that trip and instantly decided, “I want to be a pilot.”
Women were first inducted into the fighter pilot ranks in 2015, two decades after they were allowed to join the Indian Air Force (IAF).
"There have been many of us," said Singh, a lieutenant. "This not only reflects modernisation (of our society) but also the fact that we can now realise our dreams."
Singh, who is married to a fellow fighter pilot, is the first Indian woman to fly the French-made single-seat Rafale jets.
Last month, New Delhi finalized a multibillion-dollar agreement to purchase 26 fighter jets from Dassault Aviation, which will add to the previously ordered 36 aircraft.
The aircraft form a key component of significant upgrades for the IAF aimed at replacing its outdated Russian-built MiG planes.
The deal comes as tensions with arch-rival Pakistan rise after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for an attack in contested Kashmir in April that killed 26 people.
Pakistan has denied any connection to the assault, which stands as the most severe attack on civilians in the Muslim-dominated area in over twenty-five years.
India has likewise viewed its northern neighbor China with concern, particularly following a fatal confrontation between their forces in 2020 along their contested Himalayan frontier.
- 'Be independent' -
Singh, born in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, had to excel in both academics and sports to break into a job once seen by many as something only men could do.
"My mother was a great source of inspiration as she didn't just want me educated -- she wanted me to be independent, and backed all my endeavours," the pilot added.
According to official data from 2023, India's Air Force boasted over 1,600 female officers, with numerous pilots among them.
The world's most populous nation also has highest proportion of woman commercial pilots -- at about 14 percent of the total strength.
Singh described her journey with aviation, starting from being "nervous and anxious" upon initially sitting in the cockpit, to finding it an "extremely thrilling" experience once she flew alone.
The first time Singh took the controls of a fighter jet, a MiG-21, was when she "realised how much skill it takes to control" to fly.
- Targeting the cosmos -
Singh was one of the pioneers to test the new Rafale aircraft.
Following an intense selection process, she was shortlisted in 2020 for simulator training with French instructors prior to moving into the cockpit.
"The responsiveness is remarkable... the cockpit is exceptionally comfortable, giving you the feeling that it was tailored specifically for you," Singh mentioned.
But her dreams are even bigger.
India is planning a manned space mission, and the pilot hopes that challenge will be her next frontier.
“I managed to excel in an area traditionally dominated by men, and if I could do it, then women have the potential to thrive in every industry,” she stated, mentioning her intention to enroll in programs to become a test pilot.
She expressed her desire to become an astronaut, so here's hoping.
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