20 women combat aviators deployed on warfare aircraft by navy

20 women combat aviators have been deployed on anti-submarine warfare aircraft by Indian Navy for hunting Chinese Warships and sub-marines in Indian Ocean.

Eight the US-built Poseidon 8-India (P-8Is), on which 20 women war-fighters have been posted, are based at INS Rajali in Arakonnam near Chennai.

Apart from this women were also posted on Russian built Ilyushin Il-38 and the license-manufactured Dornier Do-228.

The first time when navy started posting women was in 2009, they were first posted as observers on patrol aircraft.

Today many women have achieved the rank of Commanders.

The women officers on P-8s and Il-38s operate all key sensors, including weapons systems and will be war-fighters like their male colleagues if their aircraft were to attack enemy submarines or destroy warships during the conflict period, said a report.

“Women officers currently on P8s have been extremely capable. In fact, in the Services Selection Boards, inevitably the top people are the women officers. We go purely by merit,” Vice Admiral AK Chawla, the Navy’s Chief of Personnel, said.