Port Blair, March 8: On the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of INAS 318 and International Women’s Day on 08 March, a maiden all-women maritime surveillance mission was undertaken by Andaman & Nicobar Command. The crew based at INS Utkrosh comprised Lt Cdr Shubhangi Swaroop, Lt Cdr Divya Sharma and Lt Vaishali Mishra.
The occasion highlighted the crucial role played by women combatants in all the walks of Naval Air Arm, which included pre-flight briefing, meteorological briefing medical check-up and ATC briefing, all of which were conducted by women officers. This milestone underscores the commitment of A & N Command towards providing equal opportunities to all genders and fostering gender neutrality within the Indian Armed Forces. The successful completion of the mission affirms the capability of women to undertake independent operational tasks and sends a powerful message of inclusivity and empowerment, highlighting the invaluable contributions of women towards our nation’s defence and security.
INAS 318 is the elite Naval Air squadron in Andaman and Nicobar Command, continuously engaged in surveillance role since its commissioning on 08 Mar 1984. The squadron commenced 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. The unit was also awarded Citation by the Chief of the Naval Staff in Dec 2022 in recognition of four decades of service to the nation.