INDIAN MILITARY TO INDUCTS 3 FEMALE PILOTS IN JUNE
India's air force Chief stated that the country will induct its first female fighter pilots in June. Arup Raha told the Press Trust of India news agency that three female pilots will complete their training and be inducted into the force on 18 June. President Pranab Mukherjee had earlier announced that women will be allowed in all combat roles in the armed forces. Women currently comprise just 2.5% of the armed forces, working mostly in non-combat roles. "We inducted women as pilots in 1991, but on only helicopter and transport [planes]. I must thank the defence minister for having approved the Indian Air Force's proposal to induct women as fighter pilots," Mr Raha said. In 2014, Mr Raha had expressed reservations about inducting women fighter pilots, saying that "women by nature are not physically suited for flying fighter planes for long hours, especially when they are pregnant or have other health problems". ...