A woman fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force will soon join the newly-inducted Rafale fighter jets as one of its crew, as informed by sources. The woman pilot has been flying MiG-21 fighters and was selected to join the Golden Arrows squadron based at the Ambala airbase. In 2018, flying officer Avani Chaturvedi became the first Indian woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo. She flew a MiG-21 bison in her first solo flight.
At present, the IAF has 10 women fighter pilots and 18 women navigators. Currently the total strength of women officers serving in the IAF is 1,875. Last week, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik told Parliament that women fighter pilots are inducted and deployed in IAF as per strategic needs and operational requirements.
The government cleared women for fighter flying in 2016. So far, 10 women fighter pilots have been commissioned, with more in the pipeline each year.
“Women fighter pilots are inducted and deployed in IAF as per strategic needs and operational requirements within the laid down policy, which is reviewed from time to time,” India’s Minister of State for Defence stated in Parliament last week.