‘I didn't know women couldn't fly fighters’: How Bhawana Kanth went from childhood dream to becoming IAF’s first woman fighter pilot

Bhawana Kanth, who became the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to qualify as a Fighter Combat Leader in August 2026, traces her ambition to fly fighter aircraft to a childhood memory of chasing a jet across the sky. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Kanth recalled how watching an aircraft disappear into the horizon sparked her early fascination with flying, a dream she continued to pursue despite learning that women were not initially inducted into the IAF's fighter stream.

Kanth achieved the milestone after completing an advanced combat training course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior. Her qualification marks another step in a career that has seen her break several barriers in Indian military aviation, from becoming one of the country's first three women fighter pilots to earning a specialised combat leadership qualification.

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A childhood dream of flying fighter aircraft

Recalling the origins of her interest in aviation, Kanth told CNBC-TV18 that she was around three or four years old when she first remembers seeing a jet.

“It all started probably when I was about 3 or 4 years old and I remember seeing a jet, as the kids would call it, little did I know it was just an aircraft,” she said.

She described running after the aircraft and watching it until it disappeared into the distance. Kanth said the experience became her earliest memory of wanting to fly.

Her ambition remained straightforward when she considered joining the armed forces. Kanth said she had not realised that women were not being assigned to fighter aircraft when she was younger and assumed that joining the military would mean she could pursue the same goal.

“I have always, always, actually, at the cost of sounding silly, I had no idea that women don't get fighters. So, for me it was like, if we are going to the army, we will definitely fly fighters,” she told CNBC-TV18.

She said she learnt about the restriction after entering the academy, but her desire to fly fighter aircraft did not change.

“But after I joined the academy, I got to know that women don't get fighters. But nevertheless, that is all I ever wanted,” she recalled.

Kanth identified the decision to open the fighter stream to women as the biggest turning point in her career.

In 2016, she was commissioned alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh as one of India's first three women fighter pilots, giving her the opportunity to pursue the career she had envisioned.

From joining a fighter squadron to combat leadership

Kanth's career progressed through several milestones after her induction into the fighter stream. She joined a fighter squadron in 2017 and completed her first solo flight on the MiG-21 Bison in March 2018.

In May 2019, she became the first woman fighter pilot in India qualified to undertake missions on a fighter aircraft by day. In 2021, she became the first woman fighter pilot to participate in the Republic Day parade and flypast.

She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2020 in recognition of her achievements.

Her latest milestone came in August 2026, when she completed the Fighter Combat Leader course at TACDE, the IAF's institution for advanced fighter combat training. According to NDTV, the course lasts 20 weeks and is among the IAF's most demanding advanced flying programmes.

The training prepares pilots for advanced air combat, tactical planning and leadership in complex operational missions. Kanth's qualification places her in a specialised combat leadership role, extending her progression beyond becoming a fighter pilot to undertaking advanced combat training.

During her career, she has flown the MiG-21 Bison and subsequently transitioned to the Sukhoi-30MKI.

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‘From dreaming to guarding the skies’

Describing her experience as a fighter pilot, Kanth told CNBC-TV18 that the profession involves a combination of demanding flying conditions, teamwork, setbacks and the pride associated with wearing the uniform.

“And, you know, from surfing the clouds to combat to pride in the uniform, I think high Gs, low altitudes, Ray-Bans, G-suits, the camaraderie, and, you know, the setbacks and the pad on the backs, everything,” she said.

She also reflected on the progression from working alongside fellow pilots to taking on leadership responsibilities.

“I think, you know, from wingmen to leaders and from dreaming to guarding the skies, I don't think I would have it any other way. So, yeah, pretty amazing,” Kanth said.

Her remarks point to the demands of a career in military aviation, where pilots must continue to train, meet operational standards and develop the skills required to perform under pressure. Her latest qualification represents a further stage in that professional progression.

Daily training remains a priority

Asked about a habit she maintains even when it becomes difficult or repetitive, Kanth identified training as a constant part of her routine.

“I think, I definitely train a lot. I train every day. You can call this in terms of my work or physical training or at least I do something for myself, a part of it as well, which would be just train, for sure,” she told CNBC-TV18.

Her answer reflects the continuing preparation required in fighter aviation, where professional and physical training form part of a pilot's routine beyond specific courses or assessments.

‘Sometimes all it takes is just not to give up on your dreams’

Reflecting on her journey, Kanth acknowledged both the opportunity created by the policy change and the importance of remaining committed to her ambition.

“And I think, I think, call it sheer luck or probably, I think, fortune favors the bold. Or, you know, it was, I think, sometimes all it takes is just not to give up on your dreams and find a way,” she told CNBC-TV18.

She described the experience as an incredible journey, linking her childhood fascination with aircraft to the opportunity to serve as a fighter pilot and later qualify for a specialised combat leadership role.

Kanth's career has unfolded alongside changes in the opportunities available to women in the IAF. From being commissioned among the country's first three women fighter pilots in 2016 to becoming the first woman officer to qualify as a Fighter Combat Leader in 2026, her progression reflects the milestones she has achieved in Indian military aviation.