25 OCTOBER 2015

Ø  By June 2017 first batch of women fighter pilots would be serving the Indian Air Force, altering dramatically the male dominated Indian military’s combat frontiers. the first women pilots for flying fighters would be selected from the batch which is presently undergoing flying training at Air Force Academy in Hyderabad. Since their induction into the transport and helicopter streams of the IAF, their performance has been praiseworthy and at par with male counterparts. Inducting women into the fighter stream would provide them with an equal opportunity to prove their mettle in combat roles as well. The induction of women into fighter stream would be the first formal entry of women into combat role with any arm of the Indian military. As of now, they are not allowed into the combat arms of the army, navy or air force, which includes regiments of infantry and armoured corps, warships and the fighter aircraft.