Watch: Indian Navy gets its first woman pilot

In a first, a woman has been inducted as a pilot in the Indian Navy. Shubhangi Swaroop, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, will soon be flying Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.

Three other women cadets, Astha Segal from New Delhi, Roopa A from Puducherry and Sakthi Maya S from Kerala, marked historyby becoming the country's first women officers of the Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) branch of the Navy.

Cadet Shubhangi Swaroop (Maritime Reconnaissance Stream as Pilot), Cadet Aastha Segal (NAI Branch), Cadet Roopa A (NAI Branch) and Cadet Sakthimaya S (NAI Branch) during the Passing out Parade Autumn Term 2017 at India (Others)

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After their Naval Orientation course, all the four in their early 20s, had passed outin a spectacular Passing out Parade (POP) held at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala on Wednesday attended by Naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba.

It is like a dream come true for the daughter of Naval commander, Shubhangi who expressed her joy on being selected as a pilot.

Jubilant cadet of the passing out course during the Passing out Parade Autumn Term 2017 at Indian Naval Academy. (Others)

Though Shubhangi is the first Naval woman pilot, the Navy's Aviation branch has had women officers operating as air traffic control officers and as observers in the aircraft who are responsible for communication and weapons, Southern Naval spokesperson Commander Sreedhar Warrier told PTI.

328 cadets of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard including two International cadets one each from Tanzania and Maldives also passed out of the hallowed portals of INA on successful completion of their training.

On completion of the parade, the ‘Shipping of Stripes’ ceremony was conducted.

The proud parents and guardians of the Passing Out courses shipped the Naval and Coast Guard epaulets, popularly known as ‘Stripes’ on the shoulders of their wards, thus symbolizing their transformation from ‘cadets’ into full-fledged Navy and Coast Guard Officers.

The Reviewing Officer and other dignitaries shipped the stripes of the medal winners and congratulated all the trainees for their successful completion of the rigorous training.

On completion of the training at the Indian Naval Academy, these officers will proceed to various Naval and Coast Guard ships/establishments, to further consolidate their training in specialized fields.

(With inputs from PTI)