India gets its first woman 'Top Gun': Bhawana Kanth scripts IAF history
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has become the first woman pilot in the Indian Air Force to complete the prestigious Fighter Combat Leader course. This milestone follows a series of recent achievements by women in the IAF, marking a significant shift in military gender roles.
Why it matters
The achievement represents a major step forward for gender equality in high-stakes military and combat roles within India.
Another glass ceiling has been broken in the Indian Air Force, with Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth becoming the first woman pilot to clear the prestigious Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior.The achievement is significant, given that only a handful of IAF pilots are selected for the demanding 20-week programme, which trains officers in advanced combat tactics.Squadron Leader Kanth first made history in June 2016 when she was commissioned as one of the Indian Air Force's first three women fighter pilots, alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh.The development comes just months after Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh was awarded the Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) badge.
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