HISTORIC: First time 2 women officers to operate helicopters in Indian Navy warships

2 women officers to operate helicopters in Indian Navy warships. This is the first time in the history of the Indian Navy that two women officers have been selected to join as ‘observers’ or airborne tacticians in the helicopter stream.

Sub Lt Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lt Riti Singh will be the first women airborne combatants in the Indian Navy who will operate helicopters onboard warships.

HISTORIC: First time 2 women officers to operate helicopters in Indian Navy warships

They will be the first women officers who will be deployed on Navy warships as part of the ship’s crew. The entry of women was earlier restricted to fixed-wing aircraft that took off and landed ashore.

Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh are a part of a group of 17 officers of the Indian Navy, including four women officers and three officers of the Indian Coast Guard, who passed out of Indian Navy’s Observer Course at INS Garuda, Kochi on Monday.

The ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Antony George NM, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (training) who presented the awards and coveted wings to the graduating officers.

Speaking on the occasion, Rear Admiral Antony George congratulated the graduating officers and said it was a landmark occasion wherein for the first time women are going to be trained in helicopter operations which would ultimately pave way for the deployment of women on frontline warships of Indian Navy.