Three IAF Women Pilots To Fly Su-30 In Dec, Three More To Be Inducted

Indian Air Force’s first female combat fighter pilots will likely be flying Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft by year end, an air official told Deccan Herald.

“Their training is now complete. They are likely to be commissioned by December 31, 2017. Most likely they will fly the Su-30 MKI,” said a source. Bhawna, Avani and Mohana were commissioned in June 2016.

According to the report, the air force will soon induct three more women pilots in fighter stream. Rashi Raina, Shivangi Singh and Pratibha are at present undergoing the second phase of their training at an IAF flying establishment at Hakimpet near Hyderabad.

They would be commissioned on completion of training, a source told DH. Post-commissioning, the last phase of their flight training would begin in Bidar. They joined the service in June 2017 after two previous rounds of searches by the IAF in 2016.

The final part of the training would take place with Hawk advanced jet trainer early next year.