Indian Air Force welcomes the first female fighter combat leader, Bhawana Kanth. Only 1% of fighter pilots are selected for the elite Fighter Combat Leader course, which is conducted at TACDE (Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. This IAF Combat course is often compared to the US Navy’s Top Gun School. The course trains fighter pilots in advanced air combat tactics and makes them ready to lead squadrons in real-time, conflicting scenarios. This is an extremely difficult qualification and can be done by only a few pilots in the IAF.
For Bhawana Kanth, it is the latest pearl in her string of firsts. She was one of the “firsts” of the three women who got commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in 2016. In 2019, she became the first woman fighter pilot to clear combat missions. Now, she has placed herself in a much smaller circle, not just flying in combat but also leading others through it.
Early Life and Family Background
Bhawana Kanth belongs to Darbhanga, Bihar. Her father, Tej Narayan Kanth, was an electrical engineer in Indian Oil Corporation, and her mother was a homemaker. She did her schooling at DAV Barauni Refinery and completed her engineering in Bangalore. Before joining the IAF, she worked at Tata Consultancy Services. Bhawana always dreamt of flying aircraft. Later, she appeared in AFCAT, a common entrance test conducted by the Air Force. She qualified for the exam and got selected in the IAF, and during her Stage I training, she joined the fighter stream with 2 more officers, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh. This was the first time the Government of India opened the combat flying stream for women on an experimental basis. They were later formally commissioned by the then Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar. That was a historic moment as the IAF first opened the door for women combat fighter pilots.
Awards and milestones
Later years were steady and growing years for Ms. Kanth. From trainer aircraft to fighter jets, she was unstoppable. And in 2019, she became one of the first women fighter pilots to clear for combat missions along with her batchmates. She got the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2020.
Bhawana Kanth, from being one of the first fighter pilots to get commissioned as a fighter combat leader and leading squadrons in combat scenarios, is a huge achievement for any woman in the IAF or in the Country.
An experiment that worked
Back in 2016, when the IAF opened its doors to women fighter pilots, it was still on an “experimental basis”, which means there was room for doubts and concerns. Ten years later, in 2026, all the doubts and fears were proven wrong. Women fighter pilots entered combat roles; now they can lead, train, and bring laurels to the IAF.
A fighter combat leader is not just a fighter pilot but someone who is trained to teach combat tactics to others; often, those pilots lead their own squadron. It's a very big deal for Bhawana Kanth, as she will not just fly in combat situations but train others to do the same.
A road ahead for the women in uniform
This is also a great matter on a global scale. Usually, women in the Air Force are commissioned as combat fighters, but very few are eligible for the trainer positions. India is one of those countries where women are not just flying fighter jets but also teaching others how to fight from inside.
For the IAF, this is a crucial step in empowering women in the forces. Women are slowly becoming a normal, trusted part of combat roles. Many of the young women see Ms. Kanth as their inspiration. Earlier, women were unknown to the path and fearful of the ends, but now every path is being walked and is open and cleared for future fighter combat leaders.
Read more:
Flying Officer Ishita Sangwan Among India’s First NDA-Entry Women Fighter Pilots
Flying Officer Minakshi Kumari Becomes First Woman NDA Cadet to Join IAF Fighter Pilot Stream
