In a First, an All-Female Navy Aircrew completes its First Mission in the Arabian Sea

By: WE Staff | Friday, 5 August 2022

The Indian Navy announced on Thursday that an all-women navy aircrew had "made history" by performing an independent maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the north Arabian Sea on board a Dornier 228 aircraft on Wednesday.

Mission commander and captain Lieutenant Commander Aanchal Sharma, pilots Lieutenant Shivangi and Lieutenant Apurva Gite, tactical officer Lieutenant Pooja Panda, and sensor officer Sub Lieutenant Pooja Shekhawat are the five women that participated in the achievement.

The change occurs at a time when more avenues have opened for women in the military. The Naval Air Enclave in Porbandar is where the five female officers are stationed.

Prior to the "historical sortie," the female officers underwent months of ground training and thorough mission briefings, according to a statement from the navy.

"The Indian Navy has been in the forefront of the armed forces' reform. Its innovative programmes for empowering women include the hiring of female pilots, choosing female air operations officers for the helicopter stream, and organising an all-female sailing circumnavigation adventure in 2018, according to the statement.In addition, the navy will be the first of the three services to implement the new Agnipath model's personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre for women.

“This first-of-its-kind military flying mission was, however, unique and is expected to pave the way for women officers in the aviation cadre to assume greater responsibility and aspire for more challenging roles,” the navy said, adding it showcased ‘Nari Shakti’ in its real spirit.

“It perhaps marks a unique achievement for the armed forces that a crew of only women officers undertook an independent operational mission in a multi-crew maritime surveillance aircraft.”

One of the turning points for women in the armed forces came in 2015 when the Indian Air Force decided to induct them into the fighter stream for the first time.

The navy is also giving them more opportunities to serve on board warships alongside their male counterparts. The army has allowed them to fly helicopters. But tanks and combat positions in infantry are still no-go zones for women.