A paratrooper performs during Indian Air Force Day celebrations at the Hindon air force station on the outskirts of New Delhi yesterday.
Agencies/New Delhi
India will induct women as fighter pilots in its air force soon, a senior officer said yesterday.
“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,” Indian Air Forced chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said.
Raha was speaking on Air Force Day at an air base on the outskirts of New Delhi.
India had refused to allow women to join fighter squadrons owing to fears of torture if they were captured in combat.
The air force chief said it will take at least one year to start the process, and around three years before women will be flying fighters.
“The air force has the largest number of women in the three services. We have more than 1,300 women officers,” said Raha, adding: “The air force has a different environment. We operate from bases, so women can have good opportunity to fly fighters.”
“This is a progressive step. We want to progress... Many air forces have women fighter pilots,” he said.
In recent years, women in several countries including China and Pakistan, have been allowed to fly combat jets.
Raha, however, added: “Women pilots may have problems in term of physical fitness but it can be overcome.”
Interestingly, on May 12, 2014, Raha had said that women were not suited for flying fighters.
“As far as flying fighter planes is concerned, it’s a very challenging job. Women are by nature not physically suited for flying fighters for long hours, especially when they are pregnant or have other health problems,” he had then said in Kanpur.
Earlier this year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also ruled out combat role for women.
Perhaps because of this, the IAF chief came up with a rider yesterday, saying talks were on with the government on the issue and presently the proposal is with the defence ministry.
“We want it to happen as soon as possible. We are talking with defence ministry and presently the case is with the ministry. I am sure it will be approved,” he said.
“I hope in one year we can see women being inducted as fighter pilots, but it will take time for the training. It will take at least three years to make it operational,” he said.
Raha, however, said women fighter pilots might not necessarily be sent on cross-border combat missions.
“Women fighter pilots need not necessarily get involved in combat across border. There are many tasks within the country,” he said, adding: “If the need arises, they maybe sent.”
The government was expected to give final approval to the change, according to an air force source who requested anonymity.
There are currently over 100 women pilots in the IAF.
Women officers have not been allowed combat roles in the Indian armed forces. They have mostly served in the administrative, medical and education branches since the early 1990s.
Once the go ahead is given, the IAF will be the first Indian military service to have women in active front-line combat, NDTV news channel reported. In the navy, women cannot serve on warships and in the army they cannot join the infantry, armoured corps or the artillery.
Officials said it was a significant move for women’s empowerment in a country that has had women holding powerful positions in key areas including politics and business.
“We feel so proud and happy that women officers have been given this opportunity, the way we have been proving ourselves,” a woman IAF pilot told NDTV. “They (air force) were so confident in us that they took the decision,” she said.
