New Delhi: In a historic milestone for gender inclusion in the armed forces, Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has become the first woman to be inducted into the Indian Navy’s fighter stream. The announcement was made in an official statement by the Indian Navy on Friday, hailing her achievement as a breakthrough for women in naval aviation and a powerful step toward gender equality.
Sub Lt Poonia received the prestigious ‘Wings of Gold’ from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), during a graduation ceremony for the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course at the Naval Air Station INS Dega in Visakhapatnam on July 3. She now enters a year-long advanced training program on Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs). Upon successful completion, she will be eligible to operate MiG-29K fighter jets from India’s aircraft carriers, joining the elite ranks of naval aviators.
A BTech graduate, Poonia entered the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala through a short-service commission entry. Her induction into the fighter stream underscores the Navy’s broader commitment to fostering gender inclusivity and advancing the cause of Nari Shakti—women’s empowerment—in the defense sector.
While Poonia’s achievement marks a first for the Navy, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had opened its fighter stream to women in 2016. Today, approximately 25 women serve as fighter pilots in the IAF, flying advanced combat aircraft and reshaping the traditionally male-dominated field of military aviation.
The Indian Navy praised Sub Lt Poonia’s success as a milestone that not only shatters longstanding barriers but also sets the stage for a new era of women fighter pilots in the force.
