On the occasion of International women’s day and 40th anniversary of INAS 318, the Andaman & Nicobar Command conducted a maiden all-women maritime surveillance mission on Friday, March 08. INAS 318 is the Andaman & Nicobar Command’s elite Naval Air Squadron, which has been continually engaged in surveillance since its commissioning on the same day in 1984.
The occasion highlighted the critical role performed by women combatants in all aspects of the Naval Air Arm, including pre-flight briefings, meteorological briefings, medical check-ups, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) briefings, all of which were conducted by female officers. Lt Cdr Shubhangi Swaroop, Lt Cdr Divya Sharma, and Lt Vaishali Mishra, all based at INS Utkrosh, made up the crew. The squadron began its journey with the induction of Islander aircraft, which were replaced in 1999 by Dornier aircraft capable of conducting long-range maritime surveillance utilizing cutting-edge Maritime Patrol Radars.
This milestone demonstrates the Andaman & Nicobar Command’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all genders and promoting gender neutrality within the Armed Forces. The effective completion of the mission demonstrates women’s ability to execute independent operational tasks, underlining their essential contributions to the nation’s defense and security.
The Indian Navy conducted a similar operation in August of last year with INAS 314 and its first five-member all-women aircrew, which performed a surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea. Officers from the Naval Air Enclave at Porbandar executed the first all-female autonomous maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft.
The Indian Navy has been a trailblazer in the Indian Armed Forces’ efforts to integrate and empower women. It has always impressed by promoting gender equality through initiatives such as organizing all-female expeditions across the world, selecting women for air operations, and many more.