For the first time two women officers, Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh will be posted as a part of the Indian Navy warship crew. They will be serving as Observers who are airborne tacticians, regulating and handling equipment for the Indian Navy.
Earlier, entry of women was constrained to the fixed-wing aircraft that took off and landed ashore, as there were privacy concerns and lavatories issues.
The women officers are getting trained to operate sensors onboard navy multi-role helicopters. This also includes sonar consoles and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads. Reportedly they will operate the latest multi-role navy helicopters- MH-60R.
The two officers are a part of a group of 17 officers of the Navy, comprising four women officers and three officers of the Indian Coast Guard, who were presented as ‘Wings’ on graduating as ‘Observers’ at a ceremony held on 21 September at INS Garuda, here, a Defence statement stated. The group included 13 officers of Regular batch and four-woman officers of Short Service Commission batch.
The ceremony was directed in the presence of Rear Admiral Antony George, Chief Staff Officer (Training) who awarded the graduating officers.
Besides, the chief guest also presented the Instructor Badge to six other officers, (five from the Indian Navy including a woman and another from Indian Coast Guard) who had successfully graduated as Qualified Navigation Instructors (QNI).
The Rear Admiral Antony emphasized the fact that it was a turning point in the history of Indian Navy warship wherein for the first-time women will be a part of Indian Navy Helicopter stream. This would eventually pave the way for women officers appointment in frontline warships.
The officers of the 91st Regular course and 22nd SSC Observer course were well oriented in air navigation, flying procedures, tactics administered in air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and exploitation of airborne avionic systems.
These officers would serve on-board Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard, the statement stated.