Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday took off in the IAF’s frontline combat jet Sukhoi 30 MKI from the air base in Jodhpur.
Smt @nsitharaman takes off on the Su-30 MKI #RakshaMantrifliesSukhoi pic.twitter.com/xC51hjeCSa
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) January 17, 2018
The country’s first woman defence minister sat in the rear seat behind the pilot and was wearing the pilot’s G-suit.
The sortie is likely to last for 30 minutes, defence sources said.
“She is reviewing the operational preparedness and combat capabilities,” the sources said.
Sukoi-30 MKI is a nuclear-capable aircraft which can penetrate deep into enemy territory.
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the cockpit of the Sukhoi-30 MKI.
Air Warriors at the Air Force Station in Jodhpur with defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman before the sortie. (@DefenceMinIndia/Twitter)
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a flying G-suit before taking off in a SU 30MKI.
