Indian Air Force women flex muscles, fly fighter aircraft near China border

Record ID: 1690695

  • Title: Indian Air Force women flex muscles, fly fighter aircraft near China border
  • Date: 27th September 2022
  • Summary: TEZPUR, ASSAM, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 27, 2022) (ANI - No use India) INDIAN AIR FORCE (IAF) HELICOPTER PILOTS, FLIGHT LIEUTENANTS ANI AWASTHI (L) AND A. NAIN (C) POSING VARIOUS OF AWASTHI CHECKING INDIAN AIR FORCE'S ALH MARK 3 HELICOPTER AWASTHI AND NAIN ABOUT TO TAKE OFF OFFICIAL SPEAKING AT INDIAN AIR FORCE'S AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTRE HELICOPTER HOVERING ABOVE GROUND AIR TRAF
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2022 12:05
  • Keywords: ALH Mark 3 Helicopter China India Indian Air Force SU-30 aircraft Tezpur defence
  • Location: TEZPUR, ASSAM, INDIA
  • City: TEZPUR, ASSAM, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Defence,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001GVIXI6N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Indian Air Force's women pilots are operating fighter jets and helicopters, and supporting troops deployed in northereastern Tezpur, near China border as one of the world's biggest military forces gives greater responsibilities to women.
    At Tezpur forward air base, Indian Air Force pilots, Flight Lieutenants Ani Awasthi and A. Nain have been flying the indigenously developed ALH Dhruv Mark III choppers extensively.
    Flight Lieutenant Tejaswi Ranga Rao, India's first Weapon System Operator, said the troops were prepared for any kind of eventuality.
    "Our pilots from various bases in the Eastern sector are ready to respond in any case of any eventuality. We are always ready for any kind of task and challenges that may come upon us," Rao said on Tuesday (September 27).
    The Weapon System Operator are specialist officers who are required to fly in the rear cockpit of multirole Su-30 fighter aircraft and handle the sensors and weapons to be fired by the aircraft at enemy targets.
    The country's defence forces began recruiting women to non-medical positions in 1992, yet only 2.5 percent of its more than 1 million personnel are women - most of them administrators, intelligence officers, doctors, nurses or dentists.
    In recent years, Indian courts have pushed the military to widen opportunities for women, by giving them permanent commissions, for example, instead of limiting them to five-year terms.
    The Indian Air Force has more than 1,300 women officers working in ground and air duties. The numbers are likely to go up further in view of the government policy to further promote 'Stree Shakti' or 'Women Power' in the forces and the possibility of induction of women as airmen n the new military recruitment scheme.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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