Breaking Barriers: Indian Navy’s All-Woman Aircrew Creates History

New Delhi: Five officers of Indian Navy’s INAS 314 based at Naval Air Enclave, Porbandar, made history on August 3 by completing the first all-women independent maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in North Arabian Sea.

Led by Mission Commander Lt Cdr Aanchal Sharma, the Dornier 228 aircraft had on board pilots Lt Shivangi and Lt Apurva Gite, along with Tactical and Sensor Officers Lt Pooja Panda and SLt Pooja Shekhawat, the Ministry of Defence said in a PIB release.

The female officers received months of ground training and comprehensive mission briefings in the run-up to this unique sortie.

It’s a unique achievement for the Armed Forces that a crew of women officers undertook an independent operational mission in a multi-crew maritime surveillance aircraft.

INAS 314 is a frontline Naval Air Squadron at Porbandar, and operates the state-of-the-art Dornier 228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron is commanded by Cdr SK Goyal, a qualified navigation Instructor.