The first women pilots in the Fighter stream of IAF will be selected from the current batch at AF Academy. pic.twitter.com/xqbTJgdrnu — Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) October 24, 2015

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NEW DELHI: It is formal now. Women fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force will soon touch the skies with glory with the government on Saturday approving their induction in combat roles.The announcement was expected with the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha having revealing the plans to train women as fighter pilots and defence minister Manohar Parrikar stating that a decision will be taken soon.The first women fighter pilots would be selected from the batch currently undergoing training at the Air Force Academy, the defence ministry said in a statement.“This progressive step is in keeping with the aspirations of Indian women and is in line with contemporary trends in armed forces of developed nations,” the ministry said. Air Chief Marshal Raha had earlier noted that women were already flying transport aircraft and helicopters.The ministry has also taken up a comprehensive review pertaining to induction of women in the Armed Forces, both in short service commission and permanent commission, and once finalised, more branches would be opened up for induction of women to give them the space which they deserve in the Armed Forces of the country, the statement said.The ministry said the performance of women, inducted into transport and helicopter streams of the IAF, has been “praiseworthy” and at par with their male colleagues. “Inducting women into the fighter stream would provide them with an equal opportunity to prove their mettle in combat roles as well.”After successful completion of training, the women pilots will be commissioned in the fighter stream in June 2016. Thereafter, they would undergo advanced training for a year and begin operations by June 2017.Presently, the Indian Army is inducting women into the Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation (Air Traffic Control), Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Intelligence Corps, Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate Generals Branches/Cadres, said a PTI report.The Indian Navy inducts women in the Judge Advocate Generals, Logistics, Observer, Air Traffic Controller, Naval Constructor and Education branches/cadres. However, it has moved a proposal to induct women as pilots for its fleet of surveillance aircraft.With this decision to open up induction of women in the fighter stream, women have become eligible for induction in all branches and streams of the IAF.The air force currently has about 1,500 women on its rolls of which 94 are pilots and 14 navigators.