A new revelation about Operation Sindoor has highlighted the frontline role played by Indian Air Force women fighter pilots during the 2025 military operation. A woman Flight Lieutenant was reportedly part of the IAF strike package that targeted the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) headquarters at Muridke in Pakistan, a key location associated with the terror organisation headed by Hafiz Saeed.
The woman officer was flying a Su-30MKI during the operation. The aircraft is capable of employing advanced air-to-ground weapons, including the Rampage and BrahMos missile systems. However, officials have not disclosed which weapon was used in the Muridke strike, with details of the specific munitions remaining classified.
The revelation provides further insight into the operational participation of women fighter personnel during Operation Sindoor. Defence sources said that more than one woman fighter pilot was involved in missions during the 87-hour conflict. Women officers reportedly operated both Su-30MKI and Rafale aircraft, while in some missions they served as pilots and in others as Weapon System Operators.
The IAF’s approach to fighter operations also reflects the increasing integration of women into frontline combat roles. Once inducted into the fighter stream, women and men undergo the same training and are assigned operational responsibilities based on their roles and capabilities rather than gender.
Operation Sindoor began with Indian military strikes against multiple terror-linked targets following the Pahalgam terror attack. On the opening day, nine targets were struck by Indian forces. The IAF was responsible for attacks on two major locations — the LeT headquarters at Muridke and the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters at Bahawalpur — while the Indian Army engaged other targets using loitering munitions and long-range artillery.
The involvement of women fighter pilots adds another dimension to the operation, demonstrating their participation in complex combat missions alongside their male counterparts. A recently released documentary on Operation Sindoor also featured a woman officer whose identity was concealed, further drawing attention to the role of women personnel during the operation.
The latest revelation underscores the IAF’s expanding pool of combat-trained women officers and their contribution to high-risk missions. While operational details surrounding the Muridke strike remain classified, the participation of women pilots in such missions represents an