Meet Sub Lt Aastha Poonia: India's first woman fighter pilot trainee of Indian Navy
Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia will now undergo training to qualify as a fighter pilot.
Earlier on 3 July, Sub Lieutenant Poonia and Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull received the prestigious 'Wings of Gold' from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) at the winging ceremony, the defence ministry said in a statement.
"Sub Lt 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.
The Indian Navy celebrated the graduation of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.
Earlier, the Indian Navy had inducted women officers as pilots and naval air operations officers in Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) aircraft and helicopters.
With Sub Lt Aastha Poonia's streaming into the fighter stream, Indian Navy's commitment towards "gender inclusivity in naval aviation" has been highlighted.
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