New Delhi, Jan 12: Women will be inducted as pilots in the Army Aviation Corps from next year, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Tuesday.
Till now, women are only part of ground duties in the Army Aviation Corps.
Women pilots would be flying helicopters to forward locations and be part of operations at the borders, the Army Chief said, adding that the proposal has been cleared.
The Indian Air Force has 10 women fighter pilots. In the Indian Navy, women pilots are flying the Dornier aircraft and also as observers on board helicopters and P8I surveillance aircraft.
Other than the 10 fighter pilots, the IAF has 111 women pilots who fly transport planes and choppers.
During his annual press conference in New Delhi, General Naravane said:
“Last month, I had initiated a proposal that women officers can be recruited to Army Aviation. The next course which will begin in July this year, will induct women for training purposes in flying branch and after one year they will be able to join in operational duties.”
The Indian Army raised the Army Aviation Corps on November 1, 1986 and it comprises helicopters that fly in conflict and peace zones.
The Aviation Corps is critical for the Indian Army as it is pressed into action for evacuation of injured troops during operations or health emergencies in high altitude areas.
Army Aviation Corps choppers are also used for reconnaissance, observation, casualty evacuation, essential load drops, and combat search and rescue.
The helicopters participate in Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations across the country. The corps has played an important role in the past in operations like Kargil but has also been at the forefront carrying out varied tasks during the ongoing India-China military standoff in Ladakh.
Army on high alert
Indian Army is on high alert not only in Eastern Ladakh but across the Northern Border with China, General Naravane said on Tuesday.
“We have gone into a winter deployment situation… We (India and China) will reach amicable solutions. However, we are ready to meet any eventuality,” he said.
General Naravane said that last year the Army had to walk the talk to meet the challenges and the force did so successfully.
“First biggest challenge was Covid and the next was the situation at the northern border,” he said.
He also said there was no cause of concern on the logistical issues and the force’s operational preparedness is of high order. “Morale of the troops is high,” General Naravane said.
“The situation at the Line of Actual Control is the same as it was last year. The status quo remains the same. We have received directions from the government to remain in the same position where we are deployed at the friction point.
“There is no change in the deployment in the friction area in Eastern Ladakh,” said the Army Chief.
“There is no decrease in the number of troops in the friction areas,” said the Army Chief
“In depth area of the Tibet region, every year Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops come for training and after training they leave. Troops from some training areas have been vacated,” he added. (ians)
