Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a decorated helicopter pilot from Lucknow, stood at the forefront of India’s high-profile Operation Sindoor, briefing media on the IAF’s aerial response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Representing the Indian Air Force (IAF) alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sophia Qureshi, Singh symbolised both strategic expertise and the growing leadership of women in the armed forces.
A distinguished career in the skies
With over 2,500 hours of flying experience, Vyomika Singh is a specialist in operating Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. She was commissioned into the IAF on December 18, 2004 as part of the 21st Short Service Commission and rose to the rank of Wing Commander by 2017. In December 2019, she was granted a Permanent Commission. She has since played crucial roles in numerous operations and high-altitude missions, having flown from sea level up to 18,000 feet.
Despite encountering early gender barriers, such as a government advertisement stating only unmarried men could become pilots, Vyomika Singh persevered. During her final year of engineering, she discovered that women could join the IAF through UPSC’s Short Service Commission route. She passed the pilot course, earned her wings, and never looked back.
Now based in Delhi and married to a fellow IAF pilot, Vyomika shared how her name, Vyomika, which means “daughter of the sky,” inspired her career path.
A trailblazer in uniform
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh has led numerous critical missions, including a rescue operation in Arunachal Pradesh in November 2020 and a tri-services all-women mountaineering expedition to Mt. Manirang in 2021. On May 7, she stood at the heart of Operation Sindoor—India’s targeted strike against nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Her journey from an NCC cadet to a decorated Indian Air Force officer reflects unwavering determination and quiet strength. Soaring above hostile terrain and commanding high-stakes missions, Commander Vyomika exemplifies leadership and inspiration for a new generation of women who dare to reach for the skies.
