The Indian Navy made history by inducting two women into its combat arm on Friday.

The passing out parade was held at Southern Naval Command in India's southern city of Kochi.

Sub-Lieutenants Ambica Hooda from India's northern state of Haryana… and

Seema Rani Sharma from northern Uttar Pradesh, will work as observers on the Indian Navy's multi-role Dornier aircraft. The aircraft is used for transportation and aerial surveillance.

Observers are airborne tacticians who conduct operations in a military aircraft.

[Sub. Lt. Ambica Hooda, Indian Navy]:

"Women were there always, this is again one field, again we are here. So it's a matter of great pride for all of us, our instructors, our parents and everyone I say."

[Sub Lt. Seema Rani Sharma, Indian Navy]:

"Ambitions will be definitely to whatever we have learned... to give it back to our service, that is what professionalism is for us."

[Captain Vijesh Kumar Garg, Commanding Officer, INS Garuda]:

"They will be doing a very challenging job, we call them air bomb technicians, they will be playing naval war fare tactics in the...aircraft in the warfare, be it surveillance, or giving a cover to ships, or firing weapons, operating sensors."

Hooda and Sharma trained for 16 months to land the positions.