Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has become the first woman to join the fighter pilot stream of the Indian Navy, paving the way for a new era of women fighter pilots in the Navy.
In a post on 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 in Naval Aviation #IndianNavy marks a historic milestone with the graduation of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course on #03Jul 2025 at @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 be streamed into the Fighter stream of #NavalAviation – Shattering Barriers and paving way for a new era of women fighter pilots in the Navy,” the post read.
A New Chapter in Naval Aviation#IndianNavy marks a historic milestone with the graduation of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course on #03Jul 2025 at @IN_Dega.
Lt Atul Kumar Dhull and Slt Aastha Poonia received the prestigious ‘Wings of Gold’ from RAdm Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air).… pic.twitter.com/awMUQGQ4wS
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 4, 2025
Poonia’s induction into the fighter stream marks a new chapter in the Indian Navy, highlighting the navy’s commitment towards gender inclusivity in naval aviation and promoting ‘Nari Shakti’ (woman power), fostering a culture of equality and opportunity, the navy said in a statement.
The Navy confirmed that Poonia had successfully passed the Basic ‘Hawk Conversion Course‘ at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam, on July 3, 2025. INS Dega is a naval air station of the Indian Navy, under the Eastern Naval Command.
The reports suggest that Poonia is likely to fly the MiG-29K or the naval version of the Rafale fighter jet.
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