Scripting history: India's first batch of women fighter pilots inducted in IAF fighter squadron

History will be scripted on Saturday when Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will formally commission women fighter pilots along with flight cadets of various branches of the Indian Air Force at a combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal.

The graduation parade will be a landmark in IAF history as the first three women pilots will be commissioned in the fighter stream of the flying branch.

Feel confident& good definitely. All our instructors were very supportive-Avani Chaturvedi,IAF fighter pilot pic.twitter.com/jVG4qXmxht

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2016

Each has cleared the first stage of training and has about 150 hours of flying. After getting their wings tomorrow as flying officers, they will train for six months on the Advanced Jet Fighter 'the British-built Hawk' they will be assigned fighters and their squadrons.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at the passing out parade at the Indian Air Force Academy in Hakimpet(Hyderabad) pic.twitter.com/iaJP6lda7x

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2016

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had earlier told ANI that after being commissioned, they would go to the advanced jet training, and later proceed to the regular squads.

Raha, on the occasion of International Women's Day had announced that the nation will see its first batch of female fighter pilots on June 18.

In February 2016, President Pranab Mukherjee had announced that all military combat roles will be opened to women in the future.