Women Can Now Join The IAF As Fighter Pilots Too. What A Brilliant Move!

India’s Defence Minister had a simple response to why women should not be allowed to take up combat roles in the military. Manohar Parrikar reasoned that women might become prisoners in a combat operation.

And now, in what could be termed as a historic development, the Ministry of Defence on Saturday approved the induction of women fighter pilots into the Combat stream of the Indian Air Force.

Here are the tweets that speak of the development:

Flash: Ministry of Defence Approves induction of women into the Fighter (Combat) Stream of #IAF. @manoharparrikar

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) October 24, 2015

It was confirmed that first women pilots will be selected from the current batch at AF Academy.

The first women pilots in the Fighter stream of IAF will be selected from the current batch at AF Academy. pic.twitter.com/xqbTJgdrnu

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) October 24, 2015

Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had announced that women would soon be inducted as fighter pilots on 83rd Air Force Day. This move will make IAF the first of the three services to have women in active front-line combat roles.

According to the statement, given by the MoD, the first batch will be commissioned into the fighter stream in June 2016. Then, they will undergo advanced training for one year and would enter a fighter cockpit by June 2017.

Isn’t this just praise-worthy?

More power to women!

News Source: NDTV

Cover Image Source