Bhawana becomes India’s 1st woman ‘Top Gun’; Capt Shivani 1st woman ADC to Army chief
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became the first Indian woman to complete the elite Fighter Combat Leader course. Captain Shivani Sehrawat is now the first woman officer appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Army chief. Kanth previously qualified for daytime combat missions on a MiG-21 Bison aircraft. She later transitioned to piloting the advanced Sukhoi Su-30 MKI frontline fighter jet. These achievements…
In a historic milestone for Indian women, Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has emerged as the country's first female 'Top Gun' combat pilot following her successful completion of the rigorous Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course. This achievement comes nearly a decade after the fighter stream was officially opened to women in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Captain Shivani Sehrawat also marked a significant milestone in the Indian Army by becoming the first woman officer to be appointed as the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Army chief. Her appointment was made in mid-July and she has since been serving under the new Army chief, General Dhiraj Seth.
Both Kanth and Sehrawat represent a wave of women breaking barriers in their respective military branches. Kanth, commissioned in June 2016 as one of the first three women fighter pilots, outperformed her peers to earn the coveted 'Top Gun' title. The FCL course, akin to the prestigious 'Top Gun' programme in the United States, is an elite training program where only about 1% of all IAF pilots are selected.
Graduates of this course play a crucial role in refining combat tactics, operational planning, and weapons employment.
Sehrawat's appointment as ADC to the Army chief underscores the Indian Army's commitment to gender inclusion. She has started serving in this prestigious role since mid-July.
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