India to get first women air force fighter pilots in June: IAF chief

India will add a positive chapter to its history June 18, 2016 as the first batch of women fighter pilots are scheduled to take part in their passing out parade, announced Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on International Women's Day. Three women trainees of the Air Force will be inducted as Air Force fighter pilots in June.

The Defence Ministry in October 2015 had declared that women will be allowed to join the fighter stream in the air force in India. Other initiatives to welcome more women in the forces were also taken by the ministry as it declared that there will be a 33 percent reservation for women in the paramilitary.

"As of now three women trainees have volunteered to join the fighter stream. They are under the second phase of their training. Once they complete their training and are at par with their male colleagues...the passing out parade is scheduled on June 18th," ANI quoted Raha as saying on International Women's Day.

The air chief marshal also said that the women would get commissioned June 18. After the passing out parade, they will go for further training and eventually join regular squads.

Raha, who was speaking at a seminar "Women in Armed Medical Corps" in New Delhi, also said: "I must thank the defence minister for having approved IAF's proposal to induct women as fighter pilots and very soon on June 18 this year, Indian Air Force will get its first woman fighter pilot."

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who also attended the seminar, lauded Raha for taking the Defence Ministry policy forward, reports ANI.