Squadron Leader Mohana Singh now wears an accolade in her name, as she becomes the first woman fighter pilot to fly the Tejas, India’s own lightweight fighter jet. She achieved this great milestone during the recent ‘Tarang Shakti’ military exercise at Jodhpur. The event marked a great milestone for the Indian Air Force (IAF), for gender equality in India’s armed forces, and for her career.
A Trailblazing Career
Mohana Singh was born in January 1992 in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Her family is full of a proud military background. Her father, Pratap Singh Jitarwal, is a retired Master Warrant Officer in the Indian Air Force, and her grandfather was decorated with the Vir Chakra posthumously. Singh was particularly inspired by her family’s legacy, which motivated her to work towards becoming a fighter pilot since she was in school.
Obstacles Overcome
Mohana Singh was one among a few women to be shortlisted for entry into the IAF’s fighter pilot program in 2016, the first selection in the country after the decision to open this stream to women. Her rigorous training at the IAF base in Hakimpet, Telangana, sheared her for high-intensity combat roles.
She was the first female fighter pilot in the IAF to achieve full operational status on the Hawk Mk.132 advanced jet trainer, having clocked over 380 hours of flying. As part of her training, she has practised missions on combat operations.
From flying MiG-21s to LCA Tejas in Naliya air base in Gujarat, Mohana Singh is giving a new dimension to military aviation. The air base near Pakistan continues to play a vital role in India’s defence preparedness. Her contributions shine forth as a flying star in the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise.
A Role Model for Women
Singh’s influence also spreads beyond her triumphs in the skies. In March 2020, she, along with her trailblazer colleagues Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth, was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar by then-President Ram Nath Kovind. This recognition was for their trailblazing roles as the first female fighter pilots of India.
Speaking on the occasion of receiving the award, Singh had said she was proud to inspire women to do much more than she has. She encouraged them to “spread your wings and fly high.”
Legacy of Firsts
Mohana Singh not only stands as the first lady to fly Tejas but has also become a flag bearer of the gender equality that India provides its citizens in the armed forces. Her work and responsibility in high-stakes military operations send the message that women are integral to IAF.
The importance and impact of the Tejas Fighter Jet
A very important step in the buildup of Indian defence capabilities has been Tejas: an indigenous fighter with a name for agility and cutting-edge technology. The task to pilot the Tejas is one of the prime tasks requiring paramount skill, and Singh is thus placed foremost in the modernization of Indian defences.
Just as India cracks the toughest of barriers, whether in defence technology or gender equality, Squadron Leader Mohana Singh exemplified all this progress. She rewrote history over Tejas, opening doors for generations of women to pursue their high-flying dreams.
