At a time when India and China are locked in a protracted border dispute, the Indian Air Force has for the first time assigned two female combat pilots to its frontline Chinook helicopter units that are crucially supporting the army’s deployments close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including transporting light howitzers, in the northern and eastern sectors. 

Before being transferred to CH-47F Chinook units headquartered in Chandigarh and Mohanbari in Assam, respectively, Squadron Leaders Parul Bhardwaj and Swati Rathore were flying the Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopters.