In a first, Indian Air Force to induct women as fighter pilots

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force ( IAF) will soon induct women as fighter pilots, said Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. That will make it the first of the three wings of the armed forces to put women in combat roles.

"We have women pilots flying transport aircraft and helicopters. We are now planning to induct them into the fighter stream to meet the aspirations of young women in India," the air chief saidat Hindon air force station on the IAF’s 83rd anniversary.

"There are many of us in the forces who grew up watching MiGs, wished to fly these birds," a woman flying officer in the transport branch told ET. "With this move we might see that turn to reality." The air force has about 1,500 women, of which 108 are pilots in the helicopter and transport units.

Officials said the process would take some time as a policy will first have to be formulated and only then would induction begin, after which training could take up to three years.

It is yet to be seen if the move will have any impact on the other two armed forces. The Indian navy does not permit women officers on its warships while in the army women do not find a place in the combat arms. Conditions are different in the three services and it is unlikely that the other two services will quickly follow the example of the air force, experts said.

A 2010 high court verdict had granted women officers the right to permanent commissions but this has not been fully implemented. The IAF’s initiative is a significant victory for those fighting for equal rights for women in the armed forces.