Meet Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, IAF Helicopter Pilot Who Led Operation Sindoor Briefing
Last Updated:
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh is a distinguished helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF)and a trailblazer for women in the Indian armed forces.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh played a major role in Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam Terror attack. She, along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri and Colonel Sophia Qureshi, jointly led the media briefing for Operation Sindoor, a precisely planned and targeted strike on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This operation was conducted in the early hours of May 7, in response to the killing of 26 indians in Pahalagam.
Early Life and Inspiration
Vyomika's journey into the skies began with a childhood dream. Her name, which means 'one who lives in the sky," perfectly captures her ambition. Becoming a pilot was her dream since the sixth grade. Inspired by her passion for aviation, she joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during her school years and later pursued an engineering degree, becoming the first in her family to join the armed forces.
Career and achievements
Vyomika Singh was commissioned as a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force and received a permanent commission in the flying branch on December 18, 2019.
Over the years, she has accumulated more than 2,500 hours of flying time, piloting Chetak and Cheetah helicopters across some of India's most challenging terrains, including high-altitude missions in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast.
She has led numerous critical rescue operations, including one in Arunachal Pradesh in November 2020, where she showcased exceptional leadership in challenging high-altitude and adverse weather conditions. Additionally, she participated in the 2021 tri-services all-women mountaineering expedition to Mt. Manirang (21,650 feet). Her achievement was acknowledged by the Chief of Air Staff.
Her ambitious career trajectory highlights the growing role of women in leadership positions within India's defence forces.
Awards and honours
For her bravery and professionalism, Wing Commander Singh has received commendations from the Chief of Air Staff and the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of an operational command, solidifying her status as a role model for aspiring women in the defence forces.
On May 7, 2025, Wing Commander Singh co-anchored the media briefing for Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike against nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This operation, conducted in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighted her role not just as a pilot but as a frontline spokesperson for the IAF.
Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam attack, saw India execute precision strikes on terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Precision-guided munitions, air-to-ground missiles, and drones were used to target key strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed (Jem) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). While Pakistan acknowledged explosions, it denied the existence of terror camps, condemning the operation. Indian officials maintained the action was in self-defence, with estimates suggesting 80 to 90 terrorists neutralised.
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
34 minutes ago
- Hans India
If my voice brought India's issues to forefront, that's my service to nation: Priyanka Chaturvedi
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has strongly defended India's recent global anti-terror outreach mission across Europe, calling it both timely and necessary to expose the global threat posed by Pakistan-backed terrorism. Chaturvedi was part of the high-level All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad under 'Operation Sindoor Outreach,' which presented India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism and garnered international support. Reflecting on the trip, Chaturvedi said the delegation had a clear mission: 'That was my responsibility. And if my speeches have influenced people and brought the country's issues to the forefront, I consider it my service to the nation.' She added, 'I hope that in near future, the European nations, because my group toured six countries—will understand that the terrorism we have been enduring for decades is now reaching their homes.' The delegation visited France, Italy, Denmark, the UK, Belgium, and Germany. During the tour, Indian MPs met foreign lawmakers, think tanks, and diaspora groups to raise awareness about radicalization and safe havens for terror groups operating from Pakistan. Chaturvedi highlighted the growing threat of radicalisation abroad, saying: 'The way indoctrination and radicalization are taking place, and everyone's wires are connected to Pakistan, whether it's Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed, or Lashkar-e-Taiba, everyone lives in safe houses there. They are protected.' She emphasised that, 'It was a successful trip where we were able to keep the country's interests safe.' Responding to political criticism that sending delegations abroad was a waste of public money, Chaturvedi hit back: 'Many leaders are saying that sending foreign delegations was a waste of money and time. I hope they will take a debriefing from their own party members who were also part of these delegations, ask them what was discussed, how it was said, and what their role was.' When asked about her passionate speeches and even mimicry of Pakistani political figures like Hina Rabbani Khar or Bilawal Bhutto (referred to as "Minamal Bhutto" in some circles), Chaturvedi firmly rooted her motivation in personal experience. 'After 26/11, the terrorist attack in Mumbai, I was deeply affected and came into politics. I know how many homes are destroyed because of terrorism. How many women struggle to manage households. Terrorism tries to destroy businesses and the country's stability.' The Operation Sindoor Outreach initiative helped India draw sharper international attention to terrorism and its sources like Pakistan, and has provided a unified national narrative on the global stage.
Hans India
34 minutes ago
- Hans India
FairPoint: A walk across the bridge of resolve, PM Modi's strong Chenab message
There are rare moments in a nation's history when a leader's action reverberates far beyond the physical gesture -- it speaks directly to adversaries, uplifts the national spirit, and sets the course for the future. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's walk across the Chenab Bridge -- the world's highest railway bridge -- holding the Tricolour high in his right hand, was one such moment. Quiet but commanding, symbolic yet strategic, it was a bold declaration. In that symbolic stride, the Prime Minister wasn't just showcasing a feat of Indian engineering; he was delivering a bold message to those who have long sought to destabilise India through covert aggression and terror. For over three decades, Pakistan and its terror network have engaged in a relentless proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir and also in other parts of India. From cross-border infiltration to radicalisation, they have aimed to keep Jammu and Kashmir and India in turmoil. And when the Pahalgam terror attack happened, India responded with Operation Sindoor -- with military resolve and diplomatic firmness. Amid this operation, India continued with its developmental triumphs. The walk on the Chenab Bridge was a powerful signal to Pakistan, its allies, and the rest of the world. By walking that bridge with the flag aloft, PM Modi asserted territorial sovereignty and also underlined a shift in India's policy from deterrence to direct action. After the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba, India has made it clear -- neither the LoC nor Pakistani territory will remain untouched if terror originates from there. The shift started with the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, the revocation of Article 370, and the May 7 Operation Sindoor. These have all marked a shift in India's strategic doctrine -- no longer defensive and reactive but proactive and assertive. Through Operation Sindoor, New Delhi has set a new strategic red line -- if terror is Pakistan's state policy, it will be met with a visible and forceful response. PM Modi's solitary walk was a signal that India will no longer be held hostage by fear nor dictated to by those who trade in violence and chaos. It was also a message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that New Delhi's commitment to development, stability, and integration is not just a promise -- it is a mission. The walk was also a reminder to every Indian watching that the fight against terror isn't only for the security forces to tackle, but it's also in our commitment to progress. Roads, tunnels, railways, and bridges -- these are India's new weapons of peace, built to empower. The PM's walk on the bridge just reflected this. In that silent, deliberate stride was the assertion that the region will no longer be a theatre for conflict but a beacon of connection and progress. PM Modi's visit to J&K came exactly one month after Operation Sindoor, a meticulously executed mission that neutralised nine high-value terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In retaliation, Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling at residential areas in Jammu and Kashmir and also indulged in drone raids across the whole of the western border. India then attacked 11 airbases of Pakistan, following which Pakistan raised the white flag and begged for a ceasefire. Operation Sindoor wasn't just a tactical win. It was a strategic signal: that India's patience with terrorism emanating from Pakistan is not infinite and that every infiltration, every ambush, will be met with proportionate force. By choosing to visit J&K after this operation and walk on the Chenab Bridge, which is just 133 km from PoK, PM Modi linked two critical narratives: the hard power of security and the soft power of development. It reflected the seamless continuation of India's twin-track approach in Jammu and Kashmir -- crush the terror infrastructure while simultaneously empowering the region through unprecedented infrastructure and economic development. This stands in stark contrast to Pakistan's approach to Kashmir: one rooted in radicalisation, violence, and diplomatic falsehoods. It is forcing the youth to die for a false narrative and an insane cause, and has kept the occupied part of Kashmir in poverty and underdevelopment. PM Modi's walk across the Chenab Bridge wasn't just physical; it was psychological. It represented an India that is no longer looking over its shoulder but walking ahead with resolve, dignity, and confidence. Holding the flag was a symbol of ownership of territory, of the future, and of the narrative. Leaders are often remembered not just for what they say but for what they do when it matters. With the Tricolour fluttering against the Himalayan winds, PM Modi's walk on the Chenab Bridge was symbolic and historic. For Pakistan, it was a warning that India will protect its territorial integrity and punish aggression with precision. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it was reassurance that they are seen, heard, and included. And for the rest of the world, it was a signal that India is prepared to lead not just economically but morally and militarily if required.
India.com
38 minutes ago
- India.com
Pakistan Like Emperor That Has No Clothes: BJP MP Baijayant Panda
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda, who led an all-party parliamentary delegation in four countries, on Thursday cornered Pakistan over the Islamic nation's continous support to terrorism. Panda labelled Pakistan as "an emperor that has no clothes". The delegation led by Panda visited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. It included members Nishikant Dubey (BJP), Phangnon Konyak (BJP), Rekha Sharma (BJP), Asaduddin Owaisi (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen), Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Harsh Shringla. "Pakistan is like the emperor that has no clothes. It's pretty shameless, but everybody knows what it is," Panda said in an interview with India Today. The delegations were sent to 33 countries following Operation Sindoor against terror sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The Operation Sindoor was launched on May 6-7 to avenge the killings of 26 civilians by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Talking about the countries visited by the parliamentary delegation and their bilateral relationship with Pakistan, Panda informed that even though these are Islamic nations, their paths are not the same as that of Pakistan since all four countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria, have taken "strong" action against "jihadism". Contrary to actions taken by these countries, the BJP MP said, Pakistan has gone in the opposite direction, encouraging jihadis and fundamentalist elements. "Keep in mind that over the last couple of decades, you know, these are all Islamic countries, but their path and Pakistan's path have diverged quite a bit. All these four countries have taken very strong actions against jihadism and Salafist elements, and they have rubbed them out from operating on their soil," Panda said. "Pakistan has gone in the opposite direction. It continues to encourage jihadis and fundamentalist elements. This is why there is a divergence in their relationship with Pakistan," he added. Highlighting the financial assistance provided to Pakistan by these countries, Panda argued that they have witnessed the aid being misused. He said that Pakistan has used the aid to finance terrorism instead of working for development. "Some of these countries have helped Pakistan financially in the past years, and they have seen that the aid has been misused. Now, these countries have developed their schools, roads, colleges and hospitals. But Pakistan has taken their money and, instead of using it for the same purpose, has used it to finance terrorism," he said, adding, "These are things that they are very unhappy about, and they did make it very clear to us that they stand with us." Furthermore, Panda said that the four Islamic nations perceive India and Pakistan in entirely different ways, categorising the neighbouring country as a "problem child" who abstains from becoming normal and has "misused the support".
