Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday became only the second woman leader in India to fly in Sukhoi-30 MKI jet after former president Pratibha Patil. When he was the president, A P J Abdul Kalam had also flown in the fighter jet, an Air Force official said. Within seconds, the fighter jet was flying high with the country s first full-time woman defence minister on it. The defence minister said the level of preparation and alertness exhibited by the pilots was an "eye opener". The Sukhoi-30 MKI is capable of carrying nuclear arms and can penetrate deep into enemy territory.

Source: dna January 17, 2018 15:11 UTC