Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has achieved a monumental milestone, becoming the first woman in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to successfully complete the highly challenging Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course. This accomplishment positions her as India's inaugural female 'Top Gun' pilot, marking a significant moment for women in military aviation.
The FCL course is considered the toughest combat badge in the IAF, with only about one percent of fighter pilots ever selected for the intensive five-month program. Conducted at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), the IAF's central hub for fighting doctrine, the training transforms aircrew into specialists proficient in advanced tactics, weapons employment, and complex air combat maneuvers. TACDE is also responsible for developing tactical procedures, authoring standard operating manuals, and rigorously evaluating new aircraft, radars, and weaponry.
Sqn Ldr Kanth's journey to this elite status began in June 2016 when she joined the IAF's pioneering cohort of female fighter pilots, alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh. Hailing from Darbhanga, Bihar, Kanth initially trained as an engineer before embarking on her military career. In May 2019, she made headlines again as the first Indian woman cleared for daytime fighter combat missions, initially flying the MiG-21 Bison before transitioning to the formidable Su-30 MKI. Her public presence has included representing the IAF in the Republic Day Parade in 2021 and participating in the Republic Day Flypast in 2024.
The integration of women into combat roles in the IAF has been a progressive journey. While women were first inducted into cockpits in 1994, with Flight Lieutenant Harita Kaur Deol flying solo, they were initially restricted to transport aircraft and helicopters for over two decades. The combat stream opened to women in 2016, paving the way for figures like Kanth, Chaturvedi, and Singh to break barriers.
Sqn Ldr Kanth's achievement is part of a growing list of accomplishments by women in the IAF. Just two months prior, Squadron Leader Saanya became the first woman to earn the service's highest instructional grade, the Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor rating. Other notable women include Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, who received the Yudh Seva Medal as a flight controller during the 2019 post-Balakot aerial engagements, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who has been at the forefront of strategic government briefings during critical operational confrontations.