Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the IAF jointly led a press conference about Operation Sindoor with Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri on May 7, 2025. Here is an extended introduction to Commander Vyomika Singh
Early Background and Entry to the Armed Services
The name Vyomika means daughter of sky. From a young age, Vyomika had a desire to fly. During a classroom conversation about names in the sixth grade, she said to her teacher, “My name is Vyomika, and Vyom means sky.” A classmate teased, “So you are the owner of sky! You are Vyomika!” This comment set off her dream to be a pilot. As a student, she joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and had initial exposure to military lifestyle. Then, she took mathematics and studied engineering in order to have a technical base. At first, she was disappointed to learn that the IAF was only recruiting “unmarried male candidates,” but then she learned that there is a way to join the armed forces through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination and she applied through the Services Selection Board (SSB). On December 18, 2004, she was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as part of the 21st Short Service Commission (Women) Flying Pilot Course making her the first female in her family to join the military.
Flight Experience and Promotions
Vyomika Singh is a helicopter pilot and has logged over 2,500 flying hours on helicopters that include the Chetak and Cheetah. She has flown in tough terrain, including Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. She was promoted to Wing Commander on December 18, 2017. She was granted a permanent commission in December 2019 in the flying branch of the Indian Air Force and in 2021 she took part in a tri-service all-women mountaineering expedition to Manirang Peak, one of the highest peaks in Himachal Pradesh, which is located at the border of Kinnaur and Spiti districts. Her efforts have been acknowledged by senior officials within the defence establishment, including the Chief of the Air Staff.
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Role in Operation Sindoor
On May 7, 2025, India initiated Operation Sindoor in retaliation to the previous Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, in which 26 people were killed. The operation involved the Indian Forces conducting a series of precision strikes, taking out nine terrorist targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). During the first operational briefing to the press, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh conveyed detailed operational information, stating that the operation was a method to bring justice to the Pahalgam attack, noting to the press that by conducting these operational strikes for the victims of Pahalgam and for the victim’s families, the Indian Armed Forces would ultimately weaken the sanctity of the Pahalgam attack, as it would expose the truth of the terrorist attack. They struck 21 terrorist camps, from Sawai Nalan to Bahawalpur, and delivered surgical strikes with absolutely no civilian casualties, nor loss to India infrastructure. The facts she highlighted concerning Pakistan’s systematic establishment of terror structures and terrorist training camps speaks volumes on the advanced not only military reaction, but also the intelligence operation established considering the consequences by including legal observers from India, the United Nations, and internationally recognized human rights organizations.
Important Role of the Press Briefing
There are few women officers who have represented the Indian Armed Forces at a Joint Media Interaction and her role as one of them is significant as it relates to the growing role of women in India’s defense forces. The presence of her along with Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, was a message of India’s commitment to counter-terrorism, and a showcase of women’s empowerment, and unity, strength, and community harmony to the audience. The move to appoint two female officers to lead the briefing from the Indian government also served to honour the widows of victims of terrorism.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh’s journey from a little girl aspiring to be a pilot to senior officer in the Indian Air Force is a testament to her commitment, perseverance, and professional excellence. Her participation in Operation Sindoor and her commitment to women’s rights in the military demonstrate her diverse contributions as a pilot, leader, and trailblazer.
