In a significant advancement for gender equality within the Indian Armed Forces, Sub Lieutenant Siddhi Hemant Dubey has achieved the prestigious designation of a helicopter pilot in the Indian Navy, becoming only the second woman to earn this title. Her graduation from the 104th Helicopter Conversion Course at INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu symbolizes an important shift towards inclusivity, modernization, and operational readiness within the Navy.
Dubey was awarded the coveted ‘Golden Wings’ by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, after successfully completing a rigorous 22-week helicopter training course. Her accomplishment comes alongside the graduation of 17 other officers, marking a notable day for naval aviation.
Sub Lt Siddhi Hemant Dubey hails from LÅ«nasar village in Churu district, Rajasthan, and represents the third generation of her family in military service. With her grandfather having served in the Indian Army and her father retiring from the Indian Air Force as a missile fitter, her path into the forces is steeped in legacy. An alumnus of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Nagpur, Dubey held a degree in electronics and telecommunication engineering from Ramdeobaba College before working briefly in the IT sector in Pune. She excelled in the Indian Navy selection process, finishing first among 399 candidates, and was commissioned as a naval officer on May 25, 2025.
Her training took place at the Helicopter Training School of Indian Naval Air Squadron 561 at INS Rajali, renowned as one of Asia’s leading naval air bases. The curriculum was designed to challenge her physical endurance, mental resilience, and aviation skills, equipping her to undertake various responsibilities, including:
– Maritime surveillance
– Search and rescue (SAR) operations
– Anti-submarine warfare
– Anti-piracy patrols
– Humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR)
Sub Lt Siddhi Dubey’s achievement follows the milestone set by Sub Lieutenant Anamika B. Rajeev, who became the first female naval helicopter pilot in 2024. Their successes reflect the Indian Navy’s policy reforms initiated in 2020, which enabled women to engage in combat and operational roles—a significant departure from past norms where their positions were relegated to non-combat functionalities since their first commission in 1992. Women can now serve on warships, in aviation, and in frontline operational units, illustrating a remarkable evolution in the Navy’s organizational structure and ethos.
Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar expressed his pride in the graduating officers, emphasizing their professionalism, precision, and perseverance. Dubey is set to be deployed to frontline naval squadrons, where she will partake in active missions, thereby playing a pivotal role in reinforcing India’s maritime security.
Siddhi’s journey resonates as a potent message to aspiring young women across India, promoting the notion that careers in the armed forces are not only accessible but also rewarding. Her accomplishments signify a broader narrative of India’s progressive defence reforms and its commitment to empowering women within uniformed services. She joins a distinguished group of women pioneers in the Indian defence landscape, reshaping the definition of national service in the modern era.
