New Delhi: Following in the footsteps of the Indian Air Force, which now has over 20 women fighter pilots, the Indian Navy has also welcomed its first female officer poised to begin her final year of training to qualify as a full-fledged MiG-29K pilot. This will enable her to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier in high seas.
Sub-Lieutenant Aastha Poonia, alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull, was awarded the prestigious “Wings of Gold” after successfully completing transitional fighter training on Hawk advanced jet trainers. The training, which includes mastering intense combat maneuvers, took place at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
“Sub-Lt Poonia has become the first woman to be inducted into the fighter stream of naval aviation, breaking barriers and setting the stage for a new era of female fighter pilots in the Navy,” an officer remarked.
At just over 20 years old, Sub-Lt Poonia is now set to undergo intensive training on actual fighter aircraft equipped with a ski-jump, simulating the conditions of an aircraft carrier’s deck, as she works towards earning her full qualifications.
