IAF's Women Pilots Gear up to Fly Sukhoi-30

India’s first female combat aircraft pilots are about to finish the last leg of their training. After this, they will be flying the supersonic fighter jet - Sukhoi-30. The Sukhoi or  u-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat fighter aircraft developed in Russia.

The three women, Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi are currently training on British Hawk advanced jet trainers at an IAF facility at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. They were commissioned as flying officers in the IAF in June 2016.

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“The women pilots will be assigned to fighter squadrons after they complete their training in the third week of October. Their performance has been good,” a senior officer said. They are part of a batch of around 40 flying officers training on Hawks at the Kalaikunda Air Force station.

Also watch: Flying high: Meet India’s first batch of female fighter pilots

They are likely to be assigned to a Sukhoi-30 squadron later this month, IAF sources said. According to sources, the chances of them getting stationed together are very high since there are only three of them in the IAF.

In December 2015, the government took the decision to allow women to fly aeroplanes on an experimental basis of five years.

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In September this year, the army announced that it is proposing to induct women into the military police. If the proposal is passed, women will be inducted in the military’s non-officer cadre for the first time, although they will be in a non-combat role.

The number of women in the armed forces is more than 3300, including 1300 in the air force. The Indian Army plans to induct 800 women in the military police by roping in 52 women every year.

It is heartening to see women breaking barriers and proving themselves in their chosen fields. Hats off to them.

pic credits: Hindustan Times

Read Also: Army To Induct 800 Women In Military Police