A New Chapter in Naval Aviation: Sub Lt Aastha Poonia is the Indian Navy's First Woman Fighter Pilot
In a trailblazing moment in Indian military history, Sub-Lieutenant Aastha Poonia created history by becoming the Indian Navy's first woman fighter pilot. The remarkable achievement was celebrated amidst the graduation ceremony of the 2nd Basic Hawk Conversion Course on July 3 at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.
At the ceremony, Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), awarded the coveted 'Wings of Gold' to both Sub Lt Aastha Poonia and Lt Atul Kumar Dhull. The occasion was graced by higher naval officials, trainers, and beaming family members — an hour of utmost pride and national moment.
Sub-Lt Poonia's induction into the fighter stream marks a significant point in the Navy's journey towards gender inclusivity and operational capability. It is a testament to the force's overall commitment to transforming into a forward-thinking, inclusive organization.
Since 2020, the Indian Navy has seen a 15% increase in female officer induction, with increasing participation in technical and combat positions. This accomplishment also reflects India's larger "Nari Shakti" project, encouraging women's empowerment in key sectors, including defense.
Military strategy experts find that integrating women into high-risk operational roles enhances mission effectiveness by bringing fresh viewpoints, greater adaptability, and creative problem-solving in combat settings.
The INS Dega graduation wasn't only a reflection of tough training and aviation excellence — it was a symbol of progress. The Indian Navy is gradually becoming a modern, battle-capable, and egalitarian maritime force, holding itself true to both national security and equal opportunity.
Sub-Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has indelibly inscribed her name into the chronicles of Indian naval legacy by emerging as the inaugural woman to undergo fighter pilot training in the Indian Navy. This paradigm-shifting accomplishment isn’t merely a notch on the belt of gender inclusion—it’s a thunderous proclamation of transformation echoing through the steel corridors of military orthodoxy. Her foray into the elite naval fighter stream has stirred waves of admiration across both military echelons and civilian discourse.
Who is Sub Lt Aastha Poonia?
Originating from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and navigating her early twenties, Aastha Poonia’s odyssey is sculpted not by legacy but by unrelenting self-will. Untethered from a martial lineage, her ambition germinated in the soil of aspiration, not inheritance—rendering her story as compelling as it is commendable.
Before donning the naval blues, she procured a Bachelor of Technology degree, a cerebral cornerstone that bolstered her entry into the Indian Navy via the Short Service Commission. This academic pursuit wasn’t a mere rite of passage—it was the intellectual crucible that fortified her for the mechanical and tactical rigors of naval aviation.
Her foundational voyage began at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala—India’s maritime cradle of steel and salt. Post commissioning, her aerial symphony took flight at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, where she commenced elementary training aboard the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II—an airborne classroom sculpting the instincts of military aviators. From there, her trajectory arced skyward to the more formidable Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam, culminating in the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course—a gauntlet of skill, speed, and precision.
Earning Wings of Gold: The Ascent Begins
On the third day of July 2025, Sub Lt Poonia was adorned with the coveted “Wings of Gold,” an emblem not just of aerial competence but of defiant grit. The accolade was conferred by Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), amidst the ceremonial gravitas of INS Dega. Her voyage, however, was far from its terminus. Now, she embarks on advanced fighter conditioning aboard the Hawk AJT, with her gaze fixed on the MiG-29K—India’s thunderclap of the sea, catapulted from floating fortresses like INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
Why This Breakthrough Reverberates
In breaching the bastion of combat aviation, Sub Lt Poonia has not just rewritten a chapter—she’s rewritten the genre. Hitherto, women in the Indian Navy were confined to reconnaissance, rotary-wing operations, and logistic airframes. Her transition into the combative jet stream splinters this ceiling with an afterburner’s roar.
This isn’t an isolated tremor. It builds on tectonic shifts initiated years ago. In 2019, Lt Shivangi Singh etched her name as the first female pilot in naval uniform, albeit within non-fighter domains. Poonia’s induction is an escalation—a declaration that women will now maneuver within the most tactically lethal environments the Navy has to offer.
The Indian Air Force pioneered this shift in 2016, ushering in warriors like Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth, and Mohana Singh—each one a comet trail across the horizon of gender conventions. With Poonia, the Indian Navy now steps onto that very same galactic stage.
Public Acclaim and Institutional Applause
The official proclamation—“Sub Lt Aastha Poonia becomes the first woman to be streamed into the fighter stream of naval aviation”—was a digital juggernaut. The Navy’s statement on X, embellished with the resounding #NariShakti, sent ripples through cyberspace. A torrent of applause from both seasoned strategists and everyday citizens ensued, positioning her as a beacon for aspirants and a touchstone of institutional evolution.
A Standard-Bearer for Nari Shakti and National Vision
Her breakthrough embodies more than symbolic feminism—it aligns with India’s strategic imperatives. She personifies the essence of Nari Shakti, not as a political slogan, but as a kinetic force in battle-readiness. Her triumph resonates within the broader architecture of Atmanirbhar Bharat, leveraging indigenous prowess not only in machinery but also in human potential.
This move synchronizes seamlessly with Maritime India Vision 2030—an ambitious blueprint envisioning India as a sovereign maritime powerhouse. Enlisting women in frontline aviation roles isn’t merely equitable—it’s operationally astute, ensuring the Navy's fighting edge remains razor-sharp and future-proofed.
Poonia’s feat might just be the watershed moment that unlocks a tidal shift, inviting more women to step into G-suits and seize the yoke.
Charting the Next Frontiers
As she now ventures into a year-long crucible of advanced fighter training, her horizon is filled with complexity, velocity, and mastery. Upon culmination, she is expected to be deployed within a MiG-29K squadron, anchoring her role on India’s floating runways or shore-based aerial hubs. Here, she won’t just fly—she’ll defend the nation’s maritime dominion, a sentry in the stratosphere.
Her narrative will likely ignite a thousand more. Young women across the country may soon trace their contrail into the sky, aspiring not just to serve, but to soar—redefining the very grammar of India’s defence forces.
Epilogue: Wings Beyond Boundaries
Sub-Lt Aastha Poonia’s elevation as the Indian Navy’s first female fighter pilot is not a solitary ascent—it’s a collective rise of possibilities. Her metamorphosis from an engineering scholar to a high-velocity guardian of the seas is emblematic of tectonic shifts within the Indian military tapestry.
As she clasps her Wings of Gold and primes herself for the cockpit of the MiG-29K, one truth blazes clear—the sky, once considered a limit, is now a runway.
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