Meet Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi, 1st IAF woman pilot to be part of aerial War Games abroad

Squadron leader Avani Chaturvedi, 1st IAF Woman pilot will represent India at the international aerial wargames. Avani Chaturvedi will be a member of the nation's delegation to the aerial wargames that will be held with nations other than India.

Squadron Leader Chaturvedi, the first female pilot of a MiG-21 "Bison" solo, is travelling to Japan with the IAF delegation for the "Veer Guardian" exercise, which will take place from January 12 to January 26 at the Hyakuri airfield. An IAF officer confirmed this on Saturday.

SU-30MKI Squadron Leader Avni Chaturvedi will leave for Japan shortly to participate in the aerial wargames. While women fighter pilots have been part of aerial wargames in the country with foreign contingents, including the French air force, this would be the first instance of a woman air warrior leading an Indian fighter squadron on foreign soil.

The exercise, titled `Veer Guardian 2023`, will be held from January 16 to January 26 at the Hyakuri Air Base and its surrounding airspace in Omitama, and the Iruma Air Base in Sayama, Japan.

Chaturvedi completed her training at Hyderabad Air Force Academy. She did her schooling in Deoland, a small town in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. She completed her Bachelors in Technology from Banasthali University Rajasthan in 2014, she passed the India Air Force Exam. 

Chaturvedi`s batchmate and part of the troika of first female fighter pilots in the force Squadron Leader Bhavna Kanth termed the Su-30MKIs operated by the Indian Air Force as one of the best and most lethal platforms armed with indigenous weapon systems. "The Su-30MKi is a versatile multirole combat aircraft which can carry out both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions simultaneously."

"What is unique about this aircraft is that it can carry out manoeuvres at both high speeds and low speeds. It also has the capability of doing very long-range missions due to multiple refuelling it can do and it has very long endurance," Squadron Leader Bhavna Kanth told ANI in an exclusive interaction. She said the aircraft has the latest avionics and can easily integrate any of the latest weapons easily and can carry out missions with ease. Asked about her feeling as a woman fighter pilot, she said the aircraft does not know whether it was being flown by a man or a woman and she was proud to be part of the esteemed force.

Speaking to ANI, Group Captain Arpit Kala, heads an Indian Su-MKI30 fighter squadron in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, said the aircraft packs a unique blend of advanced avionics from across the world and high-calibre weapons."What makes the Indian Su-30MKI different from the flankers (Su-30 combat aircraft), which are operated across the world, is that it represents an integration of various weapons, sensors and avionics from all over the world," Group Captain Kala said.

"Its long-range vectors (missiles), including indigenous air-to-air and air-to-ground versions, give it a cutting edge over other fighter aircraft. It is one of the best fighters in the world," he added.

The Air Force officer said while the aircraft packs a punch and rivals the best in the business, the aircrew training of the IAF is also considered one of the best in the world. He said the integration of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and the Astra air-to-air missiles have made the India Su-30MKI more lethal. Officers Bhavna Kanth and Mukul Bawa, who lead separate Su-30MKI squadrons, also termed the aircraft as one of the best and most lethal platforms armed with indigenous weapon systems.

Squadron Leader Bhavna Kanth said, "The Su-30MKi is a versatile multirole combat aircraft which can carry out both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions simultaneously. It can carry out manoeuvres at both high and low speeds."Squadron Leader Mukul Bawa said, "Owing to its size and advanced avionics, any modern weapon can be integrated easily into the SU-30MKI. It helps keep the fighter abreast with modern technology in the Air Force domain."Group Capt Arpit Kala, along with Squadron leaders Bhavna Kanth and Mukul Bawa on Saturday demonstrated the advanced avionics and combat capabilities of the Su-30MKI in Jodhpur.

While women fighter pilots have been part of aerial wargames in the country with foreign contingents, including the French air force, this would be the first instance of a woman air warrior leading an Indian fighter sqaudron on foreign soil.

Officials said the long-range air-launched BrahMos missiles, which can hit targets much beyond 500 kms, would enable the aircraft to take down air defence systems of enemy forces while remaining out of their reach. The defence ministry has also cleared the acquisition of the next-generation anti-radiation missiles for the Su-30MKIs, enabling them to strike enemy radars from a range of more than 100 kms.

(With inputs from ANI)