"I started to believe that I could be a pilot."
Flight Lieutenant Arshdeep Singh Dang has become the first Sikh to graduate as a fighter pilot in Britain’s Royal Air Force since World War II.
The 28-year-old achieved the historic milestone after graduating from the RAF’s Fast Jet training programme.
A graduation ceremony was held at RAF Valley in North Wales on August 14.
With family roots in Punjab, Arshdeep is the first Sikh to attain wings from an RAF Fighter Squadron since World War II.
Speaking about his journey, Arshdeep said: “It was my paternal grandfather Sardar Santokh Singh Dang’s dream that my father should be a pilot.
“But my grandfather died when my father was just 6. So my father never really had those opportunities or resources to fulfil his wish.
“My parents encouraged me, and I started to believe that I could be a pilot. And it happened.”
Born in Chandigarh, Arshdeep’s family moved to the UK when he was six years old and later settled in Southall.
He said: “I attended a school in Mohali for 2 years or so, but I don’t really remember much. However, we keep visiting Punjab to meet our families. Two years ago, I visited Amritsar and Ludhiana.”
Arshdeep attended the University of Bristol, where he earned a BSc (Hons) in mathematics and philosophy.
He graduated from Officer Training in February 2022 and completed Elementary Flying Training in 2023.
After serving in Cyprus, he was streamed to Fast Jet training in 2024.
He began Fast Jet lead-in training in March 2025, followed by Basic Fast Jet training in July that year.
Arshdeep was sent solo to Texas in October 2025 and passed his wings test in July 2026.
He will now undergo another year of intensive training before flying fighter jets on the front line.
Arshdeep was the only pilot of Indian origin in his training batch.
Reflecting on the significance of his achievement, he said:
“I am privileged to represent my community on an international stage. I am the first Sikh to achieve this since World War II, but I don’t want to be the last.
“Sikhs made a major contribution to the British Indian Army during World War II.
“Several Sikhs were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest British gallantry honour.
“But since then, there haven’t been any notable achievements. I want my success to inspire others. We always have a chance to create history, not just in the UK, but in the entire world.”
Crediting his mother, Arshdeep Singh Dang added:
“Although it was my grandfather’s dream to see my father as a pilot, my pillar of strength has always been my mother.”
“She kept us grounded, humbled and never made us feel low even when we had financial constraints. She anchored our family through the toughest times.
“She kept those Punjabi roots and Sikh values imbibed in us even after we moved from India.”
His cousin, Gauravdeep Singh, who is based in Ludhiana, said:
“He has made Ludhiana and Punjab very proud.”
