In a historic achievement, Flying Officer Tanushka Singh from Mangaluru has become the first woman to be permanently inducted into the prestigious Jaguar fighter squadron of the Indian Air Force. This marks a significant milestone in the Air Force, as no female pilot has previously been assigned to fly the Jaguar combat aircraft, known for its success in military operations.
Tanushka hails from a proud military family. Her father, Lieutenant Colonel Ajay Pratap Singh (retired), serves as the general manager at MRPL’s HSE division, while her grandfather also served in the armed forces. Though originally from Uttar Pradesh, Tanushka has been living in Mangaluru since 2007 and proudly calls it her home. “I proudly call myself a Kudla girl,” she says.
After completing her SSLC at DPS MRPL School, Suratkal, and her pre-university studies at Sharada PU College, Mangaluru, Tanushka graduated with a B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from MIT, Manipal in 2022. Her aspiration to serve in the armed forces was clear from childhood, but she never imagined becoming a fighter pilot in the Air Force.
Tanushka initially considered joining the Indian Army but chose the Air Force for its broader opportunities for women. After undergoing rigorous training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Tamil Nadu, she was commissioned and spent a year training as a fighter pilot flying the Hawk Mk 132 aircraft.
Tanushka will soon join the Jaguar squadron after completing her current break. Although other female pilots have flown the Jaguar fighter jet for experience, Tanushka is the first woman to be permanently assigned to the squadron.
Reflecting on her first training flight, she recalls, “I felt no fear—only joy. That was the moment I knew this was the life I had always wanted.”
She encourages young aspirants to consider a career in the armed forces, emphasizing that qualities like self-confidence, honesty, and leadership are key to success.
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