Bhavana becomes Air Force’ first female ‘top gun’ fighter pilot

NEW DELHI: Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has made history as the Indian Air Force’ first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot. She is the first woman fighter pilot to successfully complete the Fighter Combat Leader course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior.

The 20-week programme is considered one of the Indian Air Force’ most advanced combat courses. Only selected fighter pilots are eligible to participate. Those who successfully complete the course are assigned to complex aerial combat missions and are considered among the Air Force’ frontline combat tacticians.

TACDE is the Indian Air Force’ premier combat tactics training institution. It is often compared to the US Navy’ Top Gun programme. Training is provided by some of the Indian Air Force’ most experienced fighter pilots.

A native of Darbhanga in Bihar, Bhawana Kanth is also a B.Tech graduate. She joined the Indian Air Force in 2016 as part of the country’s first batch of women fighter pilots. In 2019, she became the first Indian woman fighter pilot to be cleared to undertake daytime combat missions.

Bhawana initially flew the MiG-21 Bison before transitioning to the Su-30MKI. In 2021, she became the first woman fighter pilot to participate in the Republic Day parade. Later, in 2024, she also took part in the Republic Day flypast.