Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth Becomes First Woman to Graduate from IAF's 'Top Gun' School

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has become the first woman to graduate from the Indian Air Force's Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior, often described as the IAF's 'Top Gun' school. The course, formally known as the Fighter Combat Leader course, is among the most demanding training programmes the IAF offers.

According to the IAF, the 20-week course trains pilots in advanced air combat techniques, long-range precision strikes, and tactical decision-making. Selection for the course is highly competitive, with roughly one in 100 pilots chosen to attempt it. Squadron Leader Kanth completed the course after years of operational flying, including service on the MiG-21 Bison and, more recently, the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter.

Her achievement is the latest milestone in a career that has already broken several barriers. In 2016, she was one of three women commissioned as the IAF's first female fighter pilots, alongside Flight Lieutenants Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh. At the time, she said in an interview that joining the fighter stream fulfilled a childhood dream. "Once I got the opportunity, I didn't take a second to grab it and here I am," she said.

In 2019, Squadron Leader Kanth became the first woman fighter pilot qualified to undertake day combat missions in the MiG-21 Bison. Two years later, in 2021, she took part in the Republic Day flypast and parade, standing on the IAF's tableau at Rajpath — the first woman fighter pilot to do so.

The TACDE graduation adds a new chapter to that record. The fighter combat leader course is designed to shape how the IAF plans and conducts combat missions, and its graduates are expected to lead formations in complex operational scenarios. Squadron Leader Kanth's completion of the course makes her one of the few pilots, and the first woman, to hold this qualification.

Born in a small town in Bihar, Squadron Leader Kanth's journey from aspiring pilot to frontline fighter pilot has been marked by a series of 'firsts'. Her advancement to the Sukhoi-30MKI, a frontline air superiority fighter, reflects the IAF's recognition of her flying ability and operational experience.

The IAF has not released further details about Squadron Leader Kanth's specific assignments following the course. However, officials confirmed that she will now be part of a select group of combat leaders responsible for training other pilots and advising on tactical operations.

Her achievement comes amid a broader effort by the Indian armed forces to expand opportunities for women in combat roles. In recent years, the IAF has opened more positions to women, including in the fighter stream, which was closed to them until 2015. The induction of women into the military has been gradual, with policy changes enabling their participation in a wider range of roles.

Squadron Leader Kanth's career is seen by many as a sign of that change. Her latest milestone demonstrates that the path she began eight years ago has continued to open new possibilities — not only for herself, but for the women who may follow in her footsteps.

At the time of writing, she remains posted at a frontline fighter base. The IAF has congratulated her on the achievement, calling it a proud moment for the force.