India’s first woman naval fighter pilot begins Mig-29K training as navy expands carrier air power with Rafale-M deal

Sub-Lieutenant Aastha Poonia is set to become the Indian Navy’s first woman fighter pilot, beginning her final year of training that will qualify her to operate MiG-29K fighter jets from aircraft carriers at sea.

First female Indian navy fighter pilot

Sub-Lt Poonia, in her early 20s, was awarded the "Wings of Gold" alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull after completing transitional fighter training on Hawk advanced jet trainers at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam. The course included rigorous instruction in combat manoeuvres, marking a significant step toward operational readiness.

“Sub-Lt Poonia has become the first woman to be streamed into the fighter stream of naval aviation, shattering barriers and paving the way for a new era of women fighter pilots in the Navy,” a naval officer said to TOI.

Advanced Carrier-Based Training Ahead

Her upcoming training phase will include extensive sorties on aircraft that simulate carrier-based operations, including take-offs from a ski-jump that mimics the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Upon completion, she will be qualified to operate the MiG-29K, the Navy’s primary carrier-based fighter aircraft.

The development follows the Indian Air Force's induction of over 20 women fighter pilots and reflects the ongoing integration of women into frontline combat roles across the armed forces.

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India Expands Naval Aviation Capabilities

The Indian Navy currently operates 45 Russian-origin MiG-29K aircraft for carrier-based operations. These aircraft are deployed aboard India’s two aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. To augment this capability, the Indian government signed a deal in April to procure 26 Dassault Rafale Marine aircraft at an estimated cost of ₹64,000 crore. These jets are intended to enhance India's maritime strike potential until the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) becomes operational. According to current timelines, TEDBF is still nearly a decade away from induction.

Defence Ministry Clears Key Naval Projects Worth Thousands of Crores

In a major boost to naval capabilities, the Ministry of Defence has cleared several new projects, the largest being the indigenous construction of 12 Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), estimated to cost ₹44,000 crore. According to official sources quoted by TOI, construction of the 900–1,000-tonne ships is expected to take about ten years. Each vessel will be equipped to detect and neutralise underwater mines that pose threats to shipping lanes and ports.

The Ministry has also approved the procurement of semi-submersible autonomous vessels designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). These platforms will be developed under the Make-II category, meaning they will be built by private industry without upfront government funding.

Two additional projects cleared include the acquisition of Super Rapid Gun Mounts (SRGMs)—76mm main guns used on naval surface vessels—and DRDO-designed moored naval mines capable of being triggered by acoustic, magnetic, or pressure signals when enemy vessels pass nearby.

(With inputs from TOI)