For the first time ever, the Indian Navy has appointed a woman as a fighter pilot. Sub-Lieutenant Aastha Punia has become the first woman to achieve this milestone.
Earlier, the Navy had women pilots flying helicopters and surveillance planes, but Aastha will now fly fighter aircraft. Her role in protecting the country will now be even more important.
🛫 A New Chapter in Naval Aviation
The Indian Navy shared this achievement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The post included a photo of Aastha Punia and said:
“A new chapter has been added to Naval Aviation. On 3rd July 2025, with the completion of the 2nd Basic Hawk Conversion Course at the Indian Naval Air Station, a historic milestone has been achieved. Lt Atul Kumar Dhull and SLT Aastha Punia were awarded ‘Wings of Gold’ by Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air).”
This post confirmed that Aastha Punia is the first woman pilot to join the fighter stream of Naval Aviation.
✈️ Which Fighter Aircraft Will She Fly?
There is no official confirmation yet about which fighter aircraft Aastha will fly. However, the Indian Navy uses MiG-29 fighter jets, which can operate from aircraft carriers like INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
The MiG-29:
- Has a combat range of 722 kilometers.
- Can fly up to 2346 kilometers in total range.
- Can carry 450 kg of bombs, missiles, and other weapons.
This is a historic moment for the Indian Navy and for women in the armed forces. Aastha Punia’s achievement will inspire many young girls to dream big and serve the country with pride.
