Meet Captain Abhilasha Barak, The First woman Combat Aviator in Indian Army
Captain Abhilasha Barak made history when she became the Army Aviation Corps’ first female combat aviator. Captain’s accomplishment is recognised as a “Golden Letter Day” in Indian Army Aviation history. The announcement was made public on May 25 via the social media accounts of the MoD’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ (Army). After completing her training, she was given the Coveted Wings alongside 36 other Army pilots.
“Captain Abhilasha Barak becomes the First Woman Officer to join #ArmyAviationCorps as Combat Aviator after successful completion of training. Captain Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the Coveted Wings along with 36 Army Pilots by Director General & Colonel Commandant Army Aviation. Young Aviators are now ready to spread their wings in Combat Aviation Squadrons,” stated the Indian Army’s ADGPI, sharing photos from the occasion.
“While growing up in military Cantonments, and being surrounded by people in uniform, it always seemed like an ordinary affair. I never realized it (that it was different) until our family moved out of the military, after my father’s retirement in 2011. The feeling only grew stronger after seeing my elder brother’s passing out parade at Indian Military Academy in 2013. That was the moment I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Captain Abhilasha said in an interview shared by the Indian Army.
She graduated from Delhi Technological University in 2016 with a B Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering and was recruited by Deloitte, USA. She attended the elite The Lawrence School, Sanawar. After graduation from the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, she joined the Indian Army in 2018.
Unlike the Indian Air Force and Navy, the Indian Army did not yet have any female officers in the flying branch. Captain Abhilasha, 26, has broken through all-glass ceilings but is now in charge of her role as a new aviator in the Combat Aviation Squadrons. She will shortly be assigned her own mission and will be operating a helicopter.
- Chaithra B S
