Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has created history (Img: X)
New Delhi: Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has created history by becoming the first woman pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to successfully complete the prestigious Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course- one of the most advanced combat training programmes for fighter pilots.
Her achievement marks another major milestone in the journey of women officers in India’s armed forces and places her among the IAF’s elite group of combat tacticians.
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The Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course is conducted at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior, the Indian Air Force’s premier institution for advanced air combat training.
Often referred to as the IAF’s “Top Gun” school, TACDE trains selected pilots in complex combat strategies, mission planning, air-to-air warfare and air-to-ground operations.
The course is considered highly challenging, with only a limited number of fighter pilots being selected based on their operational skills and experience.
Completing the FCL course is not just about flying a fighter aircraft. It prepares pilots to take leadership roles during complex combat missions.
During the training, pilots undergo intensive sessions on:
By completing this course, Bhawana Kanth has entered an exclusive group of IAF officers trained to plan and lead advanced air operations.
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Bhawana Kanth was among the first batch of three women fighter pilots inducted into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream in 2016, along with Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh.
She became one of the first Indian women to fly fighter aircraft in the IAF and has continued to break barriers in military aviation. Her journey has been seen as a symbol of the increasing role of women in India’s defence forces.
Bhawana Kanth’s achievement comes at a time when women officers are taking on increasingly important roles in India’s military. From flying fighter jets to undergoing elite combat training, women in the armed forces are moving beyond traditional roles and contributing to operational and strategic missions.
