Mohana Singh Becomes First Woman Fighter Pilot in LCA Tejas Squadron

Squadron Leader Mohana Singh has made history as the first woman fighter pilot to join the elite “Flying Bullets” squadron, which operates India’s indigenously developed LCA Tejas fighter jets. Mohana is one of the first female fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force, having previously been part of the inaugural group of three women to earn their wings as fighter pilots.

Recently, she participated in the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise in Jodhpur, where she played a pivotal role in a historic flight alongside the three Vice Chiefs of the Indian armed forces.

Mohana’s fellow pioneering female pilots, Squadron Leaders Bhawna Kanth and Avni Chaturvedi, are currently flying the Su-30 MKI jets in the western desert. Until recently, Mohana was flying MiG-21s before her recent assignment to the LCA squadron stationed at Naliya airbase in Gujarat, near the Pakistan border.

During the exercise, Mohana was seen instructing the Army and Navy Vice Chiefs on flying the LCA Tejas, assisting them in preparation for their flights. Indian Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh piloted the LCA Tejas solo, while the other Vice Chiefs, Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, flew trainer variants alongside fighter pilots.

This joint exercise highlighted the Indian defense forces’ commitment to the “Make in India” initiative, showcasing the capabilities of the LCA Tejas amid a multinational gathering of top air forces from countries including the US, Greece, Sri Lanka, and Australia.