Indian Air Force Chief Arun Raha has announced that the force will get its first woman fighter pilot on June 18, 2016. “I must thank Defence Minister for having approved IAF’s proposal to induct women as fighter pilots and very soon on June 18 this year Indian Air Force will get its first woman fighter pilot,” said Raha.
Raha said three women trainees have volunteered to join the fighter stream and are undergoing training.
“As of now three women trainees have volunteered to join fighter stream. They are in second phase of their training. They are doing reasonably well. Passing out parade is scheduled on June 18. We feel all three will get commissioned in fighter stream,” said Raha.
He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Women in Armed Medical Corps’ organised to mark International Women’s Day here, which was also attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The Defence Ministry had cleared the proposal of inducting women as fighter pilots in October 2015. Parrikar also lauded Raha’s insistence to push forward the proposal to induct women as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force.
“Though I approved and support the proposal, it was he who was consistently pushing the file to the MoD (Ministry of Defence) level.
“I congratulate you for initiating the seminar which will go a long way in deciding the role of women in uniform and not only in the Armed Medical Corps,” Parrikar said.
IAF currently has women in seven areas of administration, logistics, meteorology, navigation, education, aeronautical engineering — mechanical and electrical — and accounts. The air force currently has about 1500 women on its rolls of which 94 are pilots and 14 navigators.
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