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Indian Navy’s first woman fighter pilot- Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia
In a historic first for naval aviation, Sub‑Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has become the Indian Navy’s first female fighter pilot. On 3 July 2025, during the graduation ceremony of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam, she was awarded the prestigious “Wings of Gold” by Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, marking her official entry into the elite fighter stream—previously an all‑male domain
Poonia, aged 24, successfully completed rigorous training on the Hawk 132 advanced jet trainer. Her induction makes her eligible to undertake the next phase of training—including year‑long advanced preparatory courses—before flying frontline carrier-based jets like the MiG‑29K or the naval version of the Rafale.
In its official statement, the Indian Navy hailed her achievement as “shattering barriers and paving the way for a new era of women fighter pilots in the Navy,” underscoring its commitment to gender inclusivity and promoting Nari Shakti in operational roles