Sub Lt Aastha Poonia becomes first woman to be trained as fighter pilot in Navy

The Navy’s announcement came after the winging ceremony of the second basic Hawk conversion course. The Indian Navy celebrated the graduation of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.

Advanced flying training of India military pilots take place in the British-origin Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer before they train on frontline fighter jets.

“On 3 July 2025, Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull and Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia received the prestigious ‘Wings of Gold’ from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air),” the Navy said in a statement.

Lt Atul Kumar Dhull and Slt Aastha Poonia received the prestigious ‘Wings of Gold’ from RAdm Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air). (Credit: X/@indiannavy)

“SLt Aastha Poonia becomes the first woman to be streamed into the Fighter stream of Naval Aviation – Shattering barriers and paving way for a new era of women fighter pilots in the Navy,” it said.

Defence sources said SLt Poonia is from Meerut and does not hail from a military background. She has completed her BTech, before applying for the aviation branch in the Navy.

The Navy has already inducted women officers as pilots and naval air operations officers in maritime reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters.

“Streaming of SLt Aastha Poonia into the Fighter Stream highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment towards gender inclusivity in Naval Aviation and promoting Nari Shakti, fostering a culture of equality and opportunity,” the Navy said.

The Navy operates two aircraft carriers, which are the INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The MiG-29K is the primary aircraft that operates from INS Vikramaditya. In April this year, India and France inked an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the procurement of 26 Rafale Aircraft (22 Single-Seater and four Twin-Seater) for the Indian Navy.

With the MiG-29 Ks slated to be phased out in the next few years, procuring the jet is an interim arrangement for the Navy’s aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant—till it acquires the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) which is currently under development by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the DRDO.