Indian Navy’s all-women crew completes maiden Maritime Surveillance Mission

Women officers of Indian Navy recently made history after completing their maiden all-women independent “maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission” to the North Arabian Sea. The mission was completed onboard a Dornier 228 aircraft.

Important facts to know:

  • Maritime Surveillance Mission was carried out by five officers of Indian Navy Air Squadron (INAS) 314.
  • INAS is based at Naval Air Enclave in Porbandar, Gujarat.
  • Dornier aircraft was captained by Mission Commander, Lt Cdr Aanchal Sharma.
  • She was accompanied by pilots, Lt Shivangi and Lt Apurva Gite.
  • Other officers included- Tactical and Sensor Officers Lt Pooja Panda & Lt Pooja Shekhawat.

To make this mission successful, women officers received ground training and comprehensive mission. It was first-of-its-kind military flying mission. This mission is likely to open ways for in the aviation cadre. They could now assume great responsibility and aspire to complete more challenging roles.

About Dornier 228 aircraft:

Dornier 228 aircraft is a multi-purpose light transport aircraft. It has its roots to German design. However, new generation of the aircraft has been indigenously built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). HAL received production licence in 1983 and manufactured 125 aircraft in Kanpur. Indian Navy had acquired this aircraft from a German manufacturer in 1998. It has a maximum range of 1,320 nautical miles and a service ceiling of 28,000 feet.


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