Women pilots in the Navy

President’s Standards for Nos. 18 and 22 Squadrons

President Pranab Mukherjee awarded President’s Standards to No.18 and No.22 Squadrons in a ceremonial parade held at Air Force Station Hasimara on 28 November 2015. Group Captain KJ Singh, Commanding Officer of No.18 Squadron and Group Captain Sandeep Singh, Commanding Officer of No. 22 Squadron, received the Standards. Both Squadrons are currently equipped with the HAL-MiG-27ML, which type is due to be phased out over the next few years.

IAF to induct women fighter pilots

Following Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha’s remarks on Air Force Day 2015, stating that women would shortly be allowed to fly frontline combat aircraft in the IAF, the MoD has since confirmed that the first Indian women combat pilots could possibly be cleared to fly combat aircraft in the Air Force from 2017 onward. Presently, flying roles for women in the IAF are limited to the ‘non-combat’ transport and helicopter streams.

MoD spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said that first women fighter pilots would be selected from the batch presently undergoing training at the Air Force Academy. “Those selected will begin to train as fighter pilots early next year, and after successful completion of training, will join operational squadrons in June 2017.”

Following the IAF’s announcement, the Navy has decided to accept women pilots in service, with the caveat that “they remain shore-based until necessary infrastructural needs are addressed.” The Navy does not permit women to serve aboard ships and submarines, so the Navy’s female pilots would perforce be restricted to flying with the Navy’s land-based SAR and maritime patrol squadrons. Women aircrew have been operational with the Indian Coast Guard for well over a decade.

Speaking at the Naval Commanders’ Conference held in New Delhi in October, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, “We want to give women equal status as long as there are no logistical, infrastructure and training issues.”

IAF Exercise

The Indian Air Force commenced its annual large- scale combined force exercise, Livewire on 31 October 2015, involving utilisation of all types of IAF air assets across the country. “The aim of the exercise is to validate the full spectrum of IAF capability in undertaking operations in response to likely future threats and operational contingencies, and also to exercise its latest acquisitions effectively in a network centric environment,” as per the spokesperson

This year’s edition of Livewire concluded on 8 November, with the IAF having flown hundreds of missions at various air bases around the country. The operational philosophy of the IAF was validated after numerous tactical and strategic missions conducted in a dynamic warfare environment, including joint operations with the Indian Army and Navy. Some of the missions flown included longrange strikes, air-to-air refueling, air defence in a network-centric environment, counter surface force operations and operations in varied kinds of terrain.

Walong ALG becomes operational

A‘Livewire’

ir Marshal C Hari Kumar, AOC-in-C Eastern Air Command inaugurated the reconstructed Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Walong in Arunachal Pradesh on 23 October 2015. Walong ALG was used during 1962 Chinese operations, but was disused thereafter, until the decision in 2013 to reconstruct it.

Despite the remote location and natural obstacles in sustaining supply of material and machinery, the project was completed in a