Captain Hansja Sharma was officially celebrated as the first woman pilot in the Indian Army qualified to fly the advanced Rudra Armed Helicopter.
The 27-year-old officer from Jammu achieved this milestone after emerging as the topper of her course at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) in Nashik, where she also became the first woman to win the prestigious Silver Cheetah Trophy for best combat aviator.
Most recently, Captain Sharma led the 251 Army Aviation Squadron during the Republic Day 2026 celebrations on Kartavya Path and the Army Day Parade in Rajasthan, showcasing the HELINA anti-tank missile system.
Army officials have described her qualification as a “landmark moment” that signals a shift toward merit-based, gender-neutral combat leadership.
Captain Hansja Sharma
Captain Sharma’s journey into the cockpit of India’s premier attack helicopter was a masterclass in perseverance. During her initial selection, she faced a Temporary Rejection (TR) on medical grounds regarding her eyesight and weight, a hurdle that often ends many military aspirations.
According to her mother, senior journalist Rashmi Sharma, Hansja responded by writing the words “Be brutal to yourself” on her wall, preparing rigorously without any coaching to meet the Army’s exacting standards.
Within just 15 days of her medical rejection, she underwent a three-hour corrective surgery to clear the requirements. This relentless drive propelled her from a Zoology student at the University of Jammu to a historic trailblazer in a branch that only recently opened frontline combat pilot roles to women.
Technical Mastery
The Rudra, officially the ALH-WSI (Weapon System Integrated), is a formidable combat platform equipped with a 20mm turret gun, 70mm rockets, and the indigenous HELINA anti-armour missiles.
Mastering such a platform requires exceptional tactical skill, which Captain Sharma demonstrated by securing First in Order of Merit in the 107th Air Traffic Management and Air Laws Course at the Air Force Academy.
“Her achievement reflects the ongoing transformation within the armed forces, where operational competence rather than gender defines combat roles,” stated an official from the Indian Army.
Leading the 251 Squadron on Kartavya Path during Republic Day 2026, Captain Sharma not only showcased her individual chops but also represented the evolving face of India’s military aviation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that Captain Hansja Sharma’s achievement is a victory for the human spirit and the power of quiet resolve. Her story is a reminder that the most formidable barriers are often those we dismantle through personal excellence and hard work.
By successfully integrating women into high-intensity combat roles like attack aviation, the Indian Army is moving toward a more inclusive future where the only metric for service is capability. We salute the grit of “Sharma ji ki beti” and the support of her single mother, which together have broken a glass ceiling in our skies.
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