Indian Navy Welcomes Its First Female Helicopter Pilot, Breaking New Ground

Indian Navy Welcomes First Female Helicopter Pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Anamika B Rajeev

In a historic achievement, Sub-Lieutenant Anamika B Rajeev has become the Indian Navy's first female helicopter pilot after receiving the prestigious "Golden Wings" at a passing-out parade held at INS Rajali, Tamil Nadu. This significant milestone highlights the Navy's commitment to empowering women in the defense sector. Alongside Sub-Lieutenant Rajeev, Lt Jamyang Tsewang, the first commissioned naval officer from Ladakh, also graduated as a qualified helicopter pilot, marking another significant achievement for the Navy.

The passing-out parade, presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, saw 21 officers being awarded the "Golden Wings." This honor marks the successful culmination of an intensive 22-week training program that included rigorous flying and ground training at Indian Naval Air Squadron 561, the alma mater of all helicopter pilots in the Navy.

Sub-Lieutenant Rajeev will now be allowed to fly a variety of helicopters, including Sea Kings, ALH Dhruvs, Chetaks, and MH-60R Seahawks, paving the way for more women to take on pivotal roles in the Navy's aviation branch. This achievement follows the Navy's earlier deployment of women pilots for its Dornier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft.

Lt Jamyang Tsewang's graduation as the first commissioned naval officer from Ladakh also adds to the Navy's growing diversity and inclusion efforts.

The helicopter training school at INS Rajali, with a legacy spanning over five decades, has trained 849 pilots, including those from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign nations.

This remarkable milestone not only marks progress for gender equality in the Indian Navy but also reflects the evolving role of women in defense forces across India.