# Bhawana Kanth becomes first woman to clear IAF’s Fighter Combat Leader course 2026-08-06T14:30:22+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has become the first woman pilot to clear the Indian Air Force’s Fighter Combat Leader course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment in Gwalior. The demanding programme runs for 20 weeks, according to The Times of India, while Business Today describes it as a five-month course selected by about one in 100 IAF fighter pilots. It trains officers in advanced air combat tactics, weapons use, electronic warfare and air-to-ground operations. Kanth was among the IAF’s first three women fighter pilots commissioned in June 2016, alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh. Business Today reports that she later became the first Indian woman cleared for daytime fighter missions in a MiG-21 Bison, before moving to the Su-30 MKI. Her achievement follows recent milestones by women officers, including Squadron Leader Saanya’s Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor qualification. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - businesstoday.in Tags: Bhawana Kanth, fighter pilots, Indian Air Force, TACDE, women in defence Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bhawana-kanth-first-woman-to-clear-iaf-fighter-combat-leader-course/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bhawana-kanth-first-woman-to-clear-iaf-fighter-combat-leader-course/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.