Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has become the first woman to be trained as a fighter pilot in the Indian Navy, marking a milestone in Indian Naval Aviation. She received the prestigious 'Wings of Gold' during the graduation ceremony of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course held on July 3, 2025, at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam. The award was presented by Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air). Poonia will be flying MiG-29K fighter jets from the decks of the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. She is the first woman officer to be inducted into the naval aviation fighter stream, joining the ranks of women already flying helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft in the Navy. Poonia joined the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala through a short-service commission after completing her BTech degree. Alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull, she graduated as part of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course, which prepares pilots for advanced fighter jet operations.