Indian Navy's All-Women Aircrew Completes First All-Women Independent Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Mission

Indian Navy's All-Women Aircrew Completes First All-Women Independent Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Mission

 Five officers of INAS 314 of the Indian Navy based at Porbandar created history by completing the first all-female independent maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea on 03 August 2022 aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft. The aircraft was commanded by the Mission Commander, Lieutenant Commander Aanchal Sharma.

 INAS 314 is a frontline naval air squadron based at Porbandar, Gujarat and operates state-of-the- art Dornier 228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron is commanded by Commander S.K. Goel, a qualified Navigation Instructor.

 The women officers were given months of ground training and extensive mission briefings prior to this historic flight.

 The Indian Navy has been at the forefront of transforming the armed forces. It is an effective and pioneering women empowerment initiative, under which induction of women pilots, Helicopter Street team includes selecting women air operations officers and conducted an all-women sailing expedition around the world in 2018.