It was a proud moment for the country when Nirmala Sitharaman became the defence minister in 2017. For those who don't know, she is the second woman defence minister that our country has had, after Indira Gandhi. 

© Twitter

And today, it is yet another proud moment, not just for her but for every Indian as well. 

By going on a sortie in a Sukhoi- 30 fighter jet, she became the first Indian woman defence minister to do so. 

© Twitter

Before the take off, Sitharaman met the air warriors of the Indian Air Force at the Air Force Station Jodhpur. 

Smt @nsitharaman  meets the Air Warriors at the Air Force Station in Jodhpur before her sortie on the Sukhoi-30 MKI #RakshaMantrifliesSukhoi pic.twitter.com/qLoACwv2dw

— Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) January 17, 201

She then went on to sit in the rear seat behind the pilot while wearing the pilot's G-suit. It was followed by a briefing session of the supersonic jet by the pilot. 

Smt @nsitharaman in the cockpit of the Sukhoi-30 MKI, familiarising herself with the fighter aircraft, before taking off for a sortie #RakshaMantrifliesSukhoi pic.twitter.com/uKtIbzOv7J

— Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) January 17, 2018

Have a look at this video of the jet taking off:

Smt @nsitharaman takes off on the Su-30 MKI #RakshaMantrifliesSukhoi pic.twitter.com/xC51hjeCSa

— Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) January 17, 2018

Since the day she became the Defence Minister, she has been spending a lot of time travelling to the Army, Air Force and Navy bases to understand their operations and to review the operational preparedness and combat capabilities. And this was just another step in that process. 

Just like us, the internet was left beaming with pride after these pictures and videos were posted by the official twitter handle of 'Raksha Mantri'.

1. This Is Awesome Indeed.

My kind of feminism: Nirmala Sitharaman is not only India's first full time woman defence minister but also the coolest one. Dons the uniform like a boss and flies a sortie of a Sukhoi MKI.

Isn't it awesome?#RakshaMantriFliesSukhoi pic.twitter.com/HdkzZN74e0

— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) January 17, 2018 2. More Power To Her

While Congress Defence Ministers were hardly leaving the South Block, @nsitharaman has been visiting every base and frontiers of the country and boosting the morale of our troops
So proud to have a defence minister like her
More power to you ma'amðªð¼#RakshaMantriFliesSukhoi pic.twitter.com/DMh0zwPXD7

— Archie (@archu243) January 17, 2018 3. Proving Her Critics Wrong And How!

WOW! Defense Minister #NirmalaSitharaman takes off on the Su-30 MKI.

Slap on the face of those who questioned her appointment as the Defense Minister,being a woman.

Truly Inspiring, shows that Women are equally capable as men ðª#RakshaMantrifliesSukhoipic.twitter.com/Hj8KtjsJeu

— Jagrati Shukla (@JagratiShukla29) January 17, 2018 4. Even Rajat Sharma Offered His Congratulations

Congratulation @nsitharaman ji on flying Sukhoi MKI30 which has nuclear strike capability. #India is proud of its first woman Defence Minister #RakshaMantriFliesSukhoi @DefenceMinIndia

— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) January 17, 2018 5. This Will Definitely Serve As A Morale Boost.

Its great to see a Raksha Mantri who is visiting, bases, borders areas, aircraft carrier and boosting the morale of our armed personnel. Great job ma'am @nsitharaman #RakshaMantriFliesSukhoi pic.twitter.com/wpOFE258Xd

— ð®ð³SandeepSinghð®ð³ (@sandeepfromvns) January 17, 2018 6. Made Our Day Too

Wow this pic made my day. Hearty congratulations @nsitharaman mam. pic.twitter.com/xYx2UGGkIF

— Siddarth Pai (@siddarthpaim) January 17, 2018 7. This Is Just The Beginning

Good to see defence minister @nsitharaman connecting deeply with the armed forces so actively. Hopefully she will help the forces get their just dues, overdue equipment, arms and armourments. There is much hope - here's to Indias armed forces becoming stronger.

— ROCKYANDMAYUR (@rockyandmayur) January 17, 2018 8. We Second That

Great job @nsitharaman u r definately taking India's prestige  and glory to new heights https://t.co/g9dD26eJ2d

— Naveen Kapoor ANI (@IamNaveenKapoor) January 17, 2018

The Sukhoi-30 MKI was developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force.