The government move follows IAF chief Arup Raha’s announcement on October 8 that women may be considered for combat flying roles. “We are now planning to induct them into the fighter stream to meet the aspirations of young women in India”, the air chief had said at Hindon air force station on the IAF’s 83rd anniversary.
Advertisement
In the past, the IAF had refused to allow women in fighter squadrons because of fears of torture or rape if they were shot down in combat roles. Defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar released a statement which said that the induction of women will begin from the current batch.
The defence ministry said that the performance of women inducted into the transport and helicopter streams has been “praiseworthy” and at par with their male colleagues. After successful completion of training, they would be commissioned in the fighter stream in June 2016.
Many countries like the United States, Israel and even arch-rival neighbor Pakistan already allow women as fighter pilots.
Earlier this week, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had directed the three Service Chiefs to return out with an in depth report encapsulating the methods in which position of women could be elevated in armed forces apart from the challenges and the infrastructural modifications wanted in this regard. However, he had ruled out combat role for women in the force for the time being due to government rules.
In 2007, these questions were the overriding concern of an inter-services committee headed by Air Marshal Sumit Mukherjee, which recommended deferring a combat role for women. It now has women in seven areas of administration, including logistics, meteorology, navigation, education, aeronautical engineering, both mechanical and electrical, and accounts.
Most modern air forces accept women as combat fliers although their numbers are very small.
Advertisement
Women military officers till five years ago were entitled only to a limited service span. While the IAF has been inducting women into the transport and helicopter streams, the decision makes way for career opportunity for women officers in all the branches of the Air Force.
