Aastha Poonia becomes 1st woman to be trained as a fighter pilot

NEW DELHI: Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has go the archetypal pistillate to beryllium trained arsenic a combatant aviator of the Indian Navy, paving the mode for a caller epoch of women combatant pilots successful the Navy.In a station connected X, the Indian Navy announced that Lt Atul Kumar Dhull and Slt Aastha Poonia received the prestigious 'Wings of Gold' from RAdm Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air)."A New Chapter successful Naval Aviation #IndianNavy marks a historical milestone with the graduation of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course connected #03Jul 2025 astatine @IN_Dega. Lt Atul Kumar Dhull and Slt Aastha Poonia received the prestigious 'Wings of Gold' from RAdm Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air). Slt Poonia becomes the First Woman Pilot to beryllium streamed into the Fighter watercourse of #NavalAviation - Shattering Barriers and paving mode for a caller epoch of women combatant pilots successful the Navy," the navy said.

Indian Navy has already inducted women officers arsenic Pilots and Naval Air Operations Officers successful MR craft and helicopters. Streaming of SLt Aastha Poonia into the Fighter Stream highlights the Indian Navy's committedness towards sex inclusivity successful Naval Aviation and promoting Nari Shakti, fostering a civilization of equality and opportunity.