Captain Hansja Sharma has emerged as one of the Indian Army’s most notable aviators, making history by becoming the first woman pilot in the Indian Army to operate the Rudra armed helicopter. In January 2026, she was selected to lead the 251 Army Aviation Squadron during the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, a prominent national ceremony showcasing India’s military capability and discipline.
Early Career and Training
Captain Sharma hails from Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir. She pursued her ambition of becoming an Army officer and aviator despite facing challenges during the selection process, including setbacks during medical examinations related to weight and eyesight, obstacles she overcame with determination.
Her foundational military experience was shaped in part through training with the National Cadet Corps (NCC), which contributed to her early development in leadership and discipline.
Historic Achievement: Rudra Helicopter Pilot
Captain Hansja Sharma’s most significant milestone came when she completed her training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS), Nashik, where she stood first in order of merit and became the first woman officer to receive the Silver Cheetah Trophy, an award presented to the best combat aviator of the course.
She is recognised as the first female pilot in the Indian Army qualified to fly the HAL Rudra armed helicopter. The Rudra is a heavily armed attack helicopter developed from the HAL Dhruv platform that serves as the Army Aviation Corps’ principal armed reconnaissance and close-support aircraft.
Leading the 251 Army Aviation Squadron
In advance of Republic Day 2026, Captain Sharma was selected to lead the 251 Army Aviation Squadron, an Army Aviation Corps unit, as part of the parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi. This selection represents a symbolic and operational milestone, placing her in command of the squadron during one of India’s most prestigious national events.
During parade rehearsals, she was seen leading her squadron from a command vehicle equipped with the HELINA (Helicopter-Launched Nag) guided missile system, a weapon system that can be fired from platforms such as the Rudra to engage enemy armour and fortified targets with high precision.
Video footage from rehearsals circulated online, showing her leadership and composure in this role, and generated praise and attention for both her individual achievement and its broader significance.
Significance and Representation
Captain Hansja Sharma’s accomplishments highlight the Indian Army’s expanding role for women in frontline aviation and combat support roles, under policies that prioritise merit and capability over traditional gender norms. Her career reflects how women are increasingly representing combat-relevant and technically demanding military roles in India’s armed forces.
Her success has been widely celebrated, particularly in her home region of Jammu, where family and community leaders expressed pride in her representation during India’s Republic Day Parade, an event that symbolises national unity and military excellence.
Broader Context: Women in Army Aviation
While Captain Sharma is the first woman pilot qualified on the Rudra armed helicopter, the Indian Army’s aviation branch has previously inducted women aviators in other roles. For example, Captain Abhilasha Barak was the first woman to become an Army combat pilot when she qualified in 2022, serving in unit and operational roles with utility aircraft, a milestone that paved the way for expanded roles in aviation.
Captain Hansja Sharma’s breakthrough into attack-oriented helicopter operations builds on that evolving trajectory of women assuming increasingly complex and combat-oriented aviation tasks in the Army Aviation Corps.
Closing Thoughts
From overcoming initial medical challenges to winning the Silver Cheetah Trophy and becoming India’s first woman Rudra helicopter pilot, Captain Hansja Sharma’s journey is one of resilience, excellence, and historic firsts. Her selection to lead an aviation squadron at the Republic Day Parade is both a personal achievement and a reflection of the Indian Army’s commitment to gender-neutral opportunities based on capability and merit.
As she leads her unit along Kartavya Path on Republic Day, Captain Hansja Sharma represents a new chapter in Indian military aviation, one shaped by inclusivity, skill, and unwavering service to the nation.