Who is Bhawana Kanth? India's 'Top Gun' woman pilot creates history in IAF
PTC Web Desk: Indian Air Force (IAF) Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has added another historic achievement to her career by becoming the first woman fighter pilot to successfully complete the prestigious Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior.
The accomplishment marks a major milestone not only for Bhawana Kanth but also for the growing presence of women in frontline combat and leadership roles within the Indian Air Force.
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The Fighter Combat Leader course is a rigorous 20-week advanced training programme designed for a select group of fighter pilots. It is considered one of the most demanding professional courses in the IAF.
Pilots who complete the course are trained to lead complex aerial combat missions and are recognised among the Air Force's top operational tacticians.
The Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), based in Gwalior, is the Indian Air Force's premier institution for advanced fighter tactics training.
Often compared to the US Navy's renowned "Top Gun" programme, TACDE prepares fighter pilots in advanced air combat strategies, mission planning, air-to-air and air-to-ground warfare and leadership during high-intensity operations.
The institute is staffed by some of the IAF's most experienced fighter pilots and controllers, making it the country's highest centre for operational air combat training.
Hailing from Darbhanga district in Bihar, Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth is an engineering graduate who was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in June 2016. She was part of India's first batch of women fighter pilots, along with Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh, paving the way for greater participation of women in combat aviation.
Over the years, she has achieved several significant milestones. In 2019, she became the first Indian woman fighter pilot to qualify for daytime combat missions.
She initially flew the MiG-21 Bison before transitioning to the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. In 2021, she became the first woman fighter pilot to take part in the Republic Day Parade. She also participated in the Republic Day flypast in 2024.
- With inputs from agencies
