In a major announcement on its 83rd anniversary, the Indian Air Force has decided to allow women to fly fighter jets. During the anniversary celebrations of the IAF, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said that he has taken the issue of taking women into combat roles with the government.
Now it is up to the Centre to give the go ahead over the inclusion of women in combat roles in the IAF.
"We have women pilots flying transport aircraft and helicopters. We are now planning to induct them into the fighter stream to meet the aspirations of young women in India," Air Chief Marshal Raha said here as IAF celebrated its 83rd anniversary.
In a contradictory statement in 2014, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had said that women were not mentally and physically fit enough to be fighter pilots. "As far as flying fighter planes is concerned, it's a very challenging job. Women are by nature not physically suited for flying fighters for long hours, especially when they are pregnant or have other health problems," he had said.
It has been long that the issue of having women in the fighter squadron has been going on. In 2010, the Delhi High Court gave a landmark ruling that women in the Army and the Air Force were allowed permanent commission, while commenting that women officers "deserve better from the government."
IAF currently has women in seven areas of administration, logistics, meteorology, navigation, education, aeronautical engineering -- mechanical and electrical -- and accounts. The air force currently has about 1500 women on its rolls of which 94 are pilots and 14 navigators.
The move is in sync with global trends and will help IAF overcome shortage of officers in the fighter aircraft stream.
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