Wing Commander Anjali Singh: Nation’s First Woman Defence Attaché

Air Force Wing Commander Anjali Singh has become the first woman defence attache in the country. As a part of her job, Singh would be posted in any Indian mission abroad. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has sent her to Moscow as the Deputy Air Attache.

As defence envoy, Singh will represent the country in defence and military related matters in Russia. All three branches of the Armed Forces send envoys to as many as 95 countries.

According to the IAF officials, she took charge of her new position on 10th of September, 2019.

Wing Commander Anjali Singh joined @IndEmbMoscow on 10th Sep as the Deputy Air Attache. She enjoys the distinction of being the first female Indian Armed Forces Officer to be posted as a military diplomat in any of the Indian missions abroad. @IAF_MCC @MEAIndia @WIONews @ANI pic.twitter.com/hOqcbPQlJ2

— India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) September 16, 2019

“Wing Commander Anjali Singh joined @IndEmbMoscow on 10th Sep as the Deputy Air Attache. She enjoys the distinction of being the first female Indian Armed Forces Officer to be posted as a military diplomat in any of the Indian missions abroad,” the Indian embassy in Moscow tweeted.

Few takeaways:

• IAF Wing Commander Anjali Singh becomes first woman defence attache
• She took charge of her new position on 10th of September, 2019.
• She is an aeronautical engineer who served with fighter squadrons during her 17-year military career.
• As a part of her job, Singh would be posted in any Indian mission abroad.

Read also: Indian Air Force: Eight Women Fighter Pilots Deployed As On July 1

First female military diplomat

Till date, only male officers were appointed as military attaches in the overseas missions of India. However last year, Nirmala Sitharaman, who was then the Defence Minister of India, advocated that military women should get some global exposure.

Reports also suggest that both the Indian army and navy would appoint more and more women officers as defence attaches in the future. Sources told TNIE  that the Navy has identified positions where women officers can be posted and the shortlisting is in progress.

The 41-year-old officer is an aeronautical engineer and has served with fighter squadrons during her 17-year military career.

“Indian women have made their mark overseas since the time Chonira Belliappa Muthamma became first Indian woman diplomat decades ago. She made her mark and so shall Wing Commander Anjali Singh. It’s a march forward…to Russia, with love,” Wing Commander Anupama Joshi, one of the first women to join the air force in 1993 told Hindustan Times.

Personal life

Anjali Singh hails from the state of Bihar. She has an eight-year-old son. The 41-year-old officer is an aeronautical engineer and has served with fighter squadrons during her 17-year long career. She has been trained on the MiG-29  combat aircraft. Singh was posted in Jodhpur before moving to Moscow.

Indian Air Force taking the lead

This July this year, PTI had reported that the Air Force had a women’s contingent of 1,900 officers. Eight of them are fighter pilots. Seventeen are navigators. The Air Force is understood to have the highest percentage of women out of the three Armed Forces services.

Earlier this month there was also news that the Indian army is all set to open eight more streams for women as permanent commissioned officers.

Read also: Martyred Pilot’s Wife Steps Into His Shoes, Set To Join Indian Air Force

Udisha Srivastav is an intern with SheThePeople.Tv