A historic 1st: 2 women officers to operate helicopters from Navy warships

Sept. 21: For the 1st time in the history of Indian Navy, two women officers — Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh — will be deployed as “Observers” onboard Indian Navy warships as part of the ship’s crew. Traditionally, the roles of women in the naval service were restricted to fixing wing aircraft. Redefining gender equality in the Indian Navy, they became the first-ever women airborne combatants of the Indian Navy to operate helicopters from the deck of warships.

Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh are part of a group of 17 officers of the Indian Navy, including four women officers and three officers of the Indian Coast Guard (13 officers of Regular batch and 4 woman officers of Short Service Commission batch) who were awarded “Wings” on graduating as “Observers” (airborne tacticians) at a ceremony held on Monday at INS Garuda, Kochi.

Another Glass Ceiling set to he broken!!
02 lady officers, Sub Lt Kumudini Tyagi & Slt Riti Singh selected for operating as "Observers" (Tactical offrs) in the helicopter stream @indiannavy, paving way for women air combatants operating from frontline warships#HarKaamDeshKeNaam pic.twitter.com/1r4h3Zckox

— PRO Defence Kochi (@DefencePROkochi) September 21, 2020

It is expected that the two officers will eventually fly on the navy’s new MH-60 R helicopters, 24 of which are on order. Widely considered the most advanced multi-role helicopters of their class in the world, the MH-60R is designed to detect enemy ships and submarines which can be engaged using missiles and torpedoes.

Sub Lt. Singh, a native of Hyderabad, is the third generation officer from her family to serve in the armed forces. Sub Lt. Tyagi, from Ghaziabad, said she wanted to be inducted into the Navy in a combat role. Two other women officers, Sub Lt. Afnan Sheikh and Sub Lt. Kreeshma R., too passed out on Monday. They would operate the fixed-wing aircraft of the Navy. Southern Naval Command Chief Staff Officer (Training) Rear Admiral Antony George presented the ‘Award of Wings’ to permanent and Short Service Commissioned officers who completed the Observer Course.