Darbhanga/Patna: Bihar’s Bhawana Kanth has achieved another milestone in the Indian Air Force by becoming the first Indian woman fighter pilot to complete the prestigious Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course.
A native of Baur village in Ghanshyampur block of Darbhanga, Squadron Leader Kanth completed the demanding course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior.
Her achievement has brought pride to Bihar, Darbhanga and the Mithila region, with celebrations reported in her native village.
20 Weeks of Advanced Combat Training
The Fighter Combat Leader course is among the Indian Air Force’s advanced fighter training programmes.
The approximately 20-week course focuses on complex aerial combat operations, advanced tactics and leadership skills required to command and coordinate fighter missions.
Pilots who successfully complete the demanding course are trained to take greater responsibility during combat operations. High-performing fighter pilots completing the course are also associated with the ‘Top Gun’ distinction. Kanth is currently posted in Punjab.
From Engineering to Fighter Aviation
Bhawana Kanth was born on December 1, 1992, in Barauni, Begusarai. Her father, Tej Narayan Kanth, is an engineer, while her mother, Radha Kanth, is a homemaker.
She completed her early education at DAV Public School, Barauni, before pursuing engineering at BMS College of Engineering in Bengaluru.
Her entry into the fighter stream came after the Indian Air Force opened the fighter stream to women in 2015.
Following her training, she was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2016 by then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
First Woman Fighter Pilot to Complete Several Milestones
Bhawana Kanth was among the first batch of women fighter pilots inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016.
In 2019, she became the first Indian woman fighter pilot to be declared operationally qualified for combat missions in a fighter aircraft.
She also made history in 2021 by participating in the Republic Day Parade as a fighter pilot.
Her latest achievement in completing the Fighter Combat Leader course adds another significant milestone to her career.
Childhood Dream Was to Fly
According to her father, Bhawana had wanted to fly from an early age.
Her ambition to join the National Defence Academy (NDA) could not materialise, after which she pursued engineering. However, she continued to aspire to a career in the armed forces.
Her journey eventually took her into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream, where she went on to become one of the country’s pioneering women fighter pilots.
Inspiration for Young Women
Bhawana’s journey from an engineering student to an advanced fighter combat leader highlights the expanding role of women in India’s military aviation.
Her latest achievement is being seen as another important milestone for women in the armed forces and an inspiration for young women aspiring to pursue careers in defence and aviation.
For Bihar’s Mithila region, her achievement also represents a moment of pride as a daughter of the region reaches a significant position in India’s fighter aviation community.
