Indian Army artillery regiments to get women officers for the first time this month

Indian Army will commission first lot of women officers in artillery regiments in April 2023 after y pass out from Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai. Indian Air Force (IAF) has several women officers who are flying fighter jets including MiG-21, Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale while Navy has also posted m on many of its frontline warships.

All women officers joining artillery regiments will be trained to handle howitzers and rocket systems. move to induct women officers in regiment of artillery, which has over 280 units handling a variety of howitzers, guns, and multiple-launch rocket systems has been recognised to give equal opportunities to women in armed forces.

Army Chief General Maj Pande said that army has sent a proposal to government to induct women officers in all combat regiments of army. response of government came on March 20, 2023.

About Women officers being inducted in combat regiments

Women officers are still t allowed to join infantry, main combat arm. Artillery regiments are designated as a support combat arm. However, artillery regiments are on frontline with many combat battalions deployed along borders with India’s hostile neighbours China and Pakistan.

women officers who will get commissioned into artillery regiments will first serve in units that y are assigned to. y will n be sent to artillery-specific courses like ir male counterparts. y will begin training on 105mm Indian field guns.

artillery regiments of Indian Army have a variety of artillery guns. se guns include 155mm Bofors artillery guns, upgraded Dhanush as well as Sharang guns, latest and most advanced guns of artillery, M777 howitzers of army which have been inducted from United States to upgrade and strengn firepower of Indian army. artillery also has self-propelled K9 Vajra howitzers which have been purchased from South Korea and also indigeusly produced by Larsen and Toubro (L&T). India has 100 K9 Vajra guns in service.

Due to government's decision, women officers will w serve in all arms barring Infantry and Armoured corps which are kwn to be combat regiments of Indian army. Army chief General Maj Pandey in January anunced that a proposal to induct women officers in Regiment of Artillery had been sent to government. army chief said that empowerment in army is a focus area and that women are expected to perform very well in Artillery regiment.