Arshdeep Singh Dang becomes first Sikh RAF fighter pilot since WWII

Flight Lieutenant Arshdeep Singh Dang has become the first Sikh to qualify as a fighter pilot with the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) since World War II. The 28-year-old officer was awarded his fighter wings during a graduation ceremony at RAF Valley in North Wales on August 14.

Born in Chandigarh in 1998, Dang moved to the UK with his family at age six and grew up in Southall, London. He holds a BSc (Hons) in mathematics and philosophy from the University of Bristol. His military career began with officer training in February 2022, followed by elementary flying training in 2023. After a period in Cyprus, he entered the fast-jet training stream in 2024, which included solo flying training in Texas.

Dang credited his family for his success, noting that his parents encouraged him to fulfill a dream his grandfather was unable to pursue. He expressed his desire to represent the Sikh community and hopes his achievement inspires others from similar backgrounds to enter aviation careers.