Navy assigns 1st woman officer to fighter stream

TO FLY HAWK ADVANCED JET TRAINERS

- Rahul Singh

Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has become the first woman officer in the Indian Navy to be assigned to the naval aviation fighter stream, the navy said on Friday.

Poonia, who is in her early 20s, will fly Hawk advanced jet trainers for another year before she can qualify on the MiG-29K fighters that operate from the navy’s aircraft carriers, a demanding job due to space constraints, high speeds, and a constantly moving platform, officials aware of the matter said.

“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,” the navy said in a statement.