NEW DELHI — Indian Air Force officer Bhawana Kanth has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first woman fighter pilot to complete the elite Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course, earning a distinction widely compared to the coveted “Top Gun” status.
Conducted at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior, the rigorous 20-week program trains select fighter pilots in advanced combat strategy, mission planning, and high-stakes leadership. Kanth’s accomplishment builds on her career milestones since her 2016 commissioning as part of India’s first batch of women fighter pilots alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh.
A native of Bihar’s Darbhanga district with a background in engineering, Kanth became the first Indian woman fighter pilot cleared for daytime combat missions in 2019, initially flying the MiG-21 Bison before transitioning to the Su-30 MKI. Her prior historic feats also include participating in the 2021 Republic Day Parade and flying in the 2024 Air Force flypast.
