A HISTORIC DECISION – GOVERNMENT APPROVES INDUCTION OF WOMEN AS FIGHTER PILOTS IN IAF

NEW DELHI:In a landmark decision, the government on Saturday approved the induction of women into fighter (combat)  stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The decision will pave way for the induction of women fighter pilots into the IAF. Defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar released a statement which said that the induction of women will begin from the current batch. “Inducting them (women) into the fighter stream would provide them with an equal opportunity to prove their mettle in combat roles as well,” said a Ministry of Defence press release.

According to the Ministry of Defence release, the first women pilots would be selected from the batch which is presently undergoing flying training at Air Force Academy. “After successful completion of ab-initio training, they 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 release said.

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