Women in uniform breaking gender barriers: Indian Navy now has a woman qualified flying instructor

Lieutenant Commander Divya Sharma, Dornier pilot of an elite naval air squadron in the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), has become the first woman to be a qualified flying instructor of the Indian Navy.

ANC took to X to announce the news.

"Lt Cdr Divya Sharma, Dornier pilot of INAS 318 at #INSUtkrosh #ANC, creates history as 1st woman Qualified Flying Instructor of #IndianNavy! Trailblazing skies & inspiring generations. #NariShakti #WomenInUniform #QFI #NavalComponent #ANC," the post read.

INS Utkrosh is a naval air station in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

INAS 318 is an elite naval air squadron in the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Ever since its commissioning on March 8, 1984, it has played a major role in maritime surveillance and reconnaissance.

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The squadron began its journey with the induction of Islander aircraft, which were replaced by Dornier aircraft in 1999.

The Dornier aircraft is capable of carrying out long-range maritime surveillance using state-of-the-art Maritime Patrol Radars.

In 2024, a maiden all-women maritime surveillance mission was undertaken by the ANC. The crew based at INS Utkrosh comprised Lieutenant Commander Shubhangi Swaroop, Lieutenant Commander Divya Sharma and Lt Vaishali Mishra.

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