IAF's Bhawana Kanth Makes History With Combat Course Feat

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 6 August 2026

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has made history by becoming the first female officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to successfully complete the highly coveted Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) Course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) at Gwalior. Her accomplishment is another step towards women's presence on the battlefields of the Indian Armed Forces, highlighting the increasing involvement of India's women in frontline combat roles and military leadership.

The Fighter Combat Leader course is one of the toughest and prestigious courses in the IAF and is termed as the "Top Gun" of the Air Force. Bhawana’s achievement is rare and remarkable as only about one per cent of IAF fighter pilots get selected for the intensive advanced combat training of 20 weeks.

 Key Highlights

• Bhawana Kanth becomes IAF’s first woman Fighter Combat Leader graduate
• She successfully completed the prestigious 20-week Fighter Combat Leader course
• She creates a historic milestone for women in the Indian Air Force

Throughout its history, Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has been a leader in Indian military aviation. In June 2016, she joined the IAF among the first three women fighter pilots to be commissioned as officers in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force after the Air Force opened its fighter stream for women after Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh. Over the years Bhawana has established an impressive career and has inspired many young women to join the armed services.

The Fighter Combat Leader program is designed to train seasoned fighter pilots to become leaders in complex aircraft combat scenarios, navigating through dynamic battle space. Pilots are trained in advanced combat planning, high pressure operational decision making, mission execution and leadership during the course. The program also introduces the participants to the evolving nature of contemporary combat, covering the proliferation of unmanned systems, long-range precision strike capacity and advanced combat technologies.

Bhawana, who successfully completed the program, is one of the top flying talent of the country, not only at the level of piloting the aircraft, but also as a pilot of complex combat operations.

She has achieved this feat two months after another historic event for women in the Indian Air Force. Squadron Leader Saanya became the first female officer to obtain the highest rating of Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor (Cat-A QFI) in the IAF. The award is only given to highly experienced instructors with the qualifications necessary to train future instructors and assess pilot performance; the result is the growing number of women in critical operational and leadership roles across the Air Force.

Bhawana Kanth's latest feat exemplifies this evolving landscape, illustrating the enduring capabilities, commitment, and excellence that defines leadership in India's defense industry. The achievement also sends a strong message to young women aspiring to work in high-performance fields, traditionally dominated by men, that opportunities are slowly growing.

Upon completion of the course, no official statement was issued by the Indian Air Force or Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth, but her successful completion of the course is an important milestone for the country's air forces and for women aspiring to a career in military aviation.