The Defence Ministry on Saturday cleared way for induction of women into the Fighter (Combat) stream of the Indian Air Force. The first set of women pilots would be selected from the batch which is presently undergoing flying training at Air Force Academy. These women officers, after successful completion of their training, would be commissioned in the fighter stream in June 2016. Thereafter, they would undergo advanced training for one year and would enter a fighter cockpit by June 2017.
The decision came barely 15 days after Air Force chief Arup Raha had announced that women fighter pilots will make debut soon. Raha was backed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who said an announcement in this regard would be made soon. “The procedure is on… There could some hurdles, difficulties during the training. Keeping all this in mind, we will soon announce a policy. There are some operational difficulties. Barring that, why can’t women participate in the combat operations of IAFIJ” Parrikar had said.
The Government on Saturday said this progressive step is in keeping with the aspirations of Indian women and is in line with contemporary trends in Armed Forces of developed nations.
Czechoslovakia, Poland, Israel, Australia, Denmark, France and Pakistan are some of the countries that allow women in combat roles. In India giving women combat roles has been a thing of debate for long, but with the performance of women impressive in their respective fields it was finally decided to allow them for much bigger roles.
“Since their induction into the transport and Helicopter streams of the IAF, their performance has been praiseworthy and on a par with their 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 Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The IAF is presently inducting women in the Transport and Helicopter stream of the flying branch, Navigation, Aeronautical Engineering, Administration, logistics, Accounts, Education and Meteorology branches. With this decision to open up induction of women in the fighter stream, women have become eligible for induction in all branches and streams of the IAF.
The MoD has also taken up a comprehensive review pertaining to induction of women in Armed Forces, both in short service commission and permanent commission (SSC & PC) and once finalised more and more branches would be opened up for induction of women to give them the space which they deserve in the Armed Forces of the country.
At present, the Indian Army is inducting women into the Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation (Air Traffic Control), Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordinance Corps, Intelligence Corps, Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate Generals Branches/Cadres. The Indian Navy is inducting women in the Judge Advocate Generals, logistics, Observer, Air Traffic Controller, Naval Constructor and Education branches/ cadres.