Flying IAF Sukhoi was 'memorable' experience for Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday termed her experience of flying a Sukhoi 30 MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF) as eye-opening and memorable.

Speaking to ANI, Sitharaman said, "Very proud and thankful that I've gone through this experience because it actually tells me with what rigor, practice, what level of readiness and how quickly the defence personnel have to respond to situations. It was eye-opening and memorable."

Earlier in the day, Nirmala Sitharaman undertook a sortie in the IAF frontline combat jet Sukhoi 30 MKI from the air base in Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

Dressed in the pilot's G-suit, the country's first woman Defence Minister sat in the rear seat behind the pilot.

Sitharaman became the first full-time Defence Minister to fly a Sukhoi 30 MKI of the IAF.

Sukoi-30 MKI is a nuclear-capable aircraft which can penetrate deep into enemy territory.