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Indian Air Force (IAF) |
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the Indian Empire and the prefix Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during World War II. After India achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the Royal Indian Air Force served the Union of India, with the prefix being dropped when India became a republic in 1950.
Since independence, the IAF has been involved in 4 wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of China. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay - the invasion of Goa, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus and Operation Poomalai. Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the IAF. The Chief of Air Staff, an Air Chief Marshal (ACM), is a four star commander and commands the Air Force. There is never more than one serving ACM at any given time in the IAF. One officer has been conferred the rank of Marshal of the Air Force, a 5-star rank and the officer serves as the ceremonial chief.
With strength of approximately 170,000 personnel and 1,300 aircraft, the Indian Air Force is the world's 4th largest air force after the United States Air Force, Russian Air Force and China's People's Liberation Army Air Force. In the past decade, the IAF has undertaken an ambitious expansion and modernisation program to replace its aging Soviet-era fighter jets.
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21st Century Indian Air Force (IAF) |
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Indian Air Force Wallpapers |
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List Of Current IAF Aircrafts |
| COMBAT AIRCRAFT |
Aircraft |
Origin |
Type |
Versions |
In service |
Trainers/ 2 Seaters |
Squadrons |
Notes |
Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker-H |
Russia |
Multirole Air Dominance |
Su-30MKI Flanker-G |
116 - 230 (eventual squadron strength) |
0 |
8, 20, 24, 30, one more under trial |
230 to be acquired in total. Initially 50 were ordered in knock-down kits and 140 to be built by HAL. Plus 40 more were ordered in 2007. All 230 aircraft to be delivered by 2015. |
HAL Tejas |
India |
multi role fighter |
HAL Tejas |
0 |
0 |
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20 on order, another follow on order of 20 aircraft to follow. Ultimate numbers 220 airframes. |
Dassault Mirage 2000 |
France |
multirole air-superiority |
Mirage 2000H |
39 |
12 |
1, 7, 9 |
Two seaters are all combat capable and are used as such. Mirage fleet to be upgraded to Mirage 2000-5 standards. As of 2008, Thales & Dassault chosen as Upgrade OEMs and RFP sent to them. Bid awaited. |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum |
Soviet Union |
multirole air-superiority |
MiG-29 |
57 |
6 |
28, 47, 223 |
To be upgraded, deal signed 2008. Upgrade to latest SMT standards but with additional Indian/Israeli/French equipment and new MiG-35 OLS, plus Zhuk ME radar, new Mission computers, airframe overhaul, new EW fit, new engines et al. |
SEPECAT Jaguar |
France United Kingdom |
ground attack
maritime strike |
Jaguar IS
Jaguar IM |
91(37 was on order)
6 |
12+17(IB)
2(IB) |
5, 14, 16, 27
6 |
40 IS being upgraded to DARIN 2, plus 37 new builds (including 17 two seaters) to DARIN-2 standards, rest DARIN-1 original fit. New DARIN-2 two seaters being used for night/ precision attack. IM received new avionics, especially a new MFD and a new Elta 2032/M radar for attack with the Sea Eagle missile. |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Flogger-D/J |
Soviet Union |
ground attack |
MiG-27 ML |
119 |
11 |
10, 18, 22, 29, 222, TACDE(0.5) |
40 being upgraded, approximately 20 aircraft delivered already. Upgrade quite similar to Jaguar DARIN-2 upgrade. |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed |
Soviet Union |
Interceptor |
MiG-21 Bison
MiG-21Bis
MiG-21M/MF |
125
48
47 |
13
8
9 |
3, 4, 21, 32, 51
15, 23, 26
17, 35 'A', 37,101,108 |
125 Bis upgraded to Bison standard, with Kopyo radar, R-77 and R-73E missiles, Glass cockpit, new avionics and self defence equipment. |
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| HELICOPTERS |
Aircraft |
Origin |
Type |
Versions |
In service |
Squadrons |
Notes |
HAL Dhruv |
India |
utility helicopter |
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64 |
117, 132, 151 |
deliveries underway, over 300 to be acquired. |
Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III |
France |
utility helicopter |
SA 316B Chetak |
92 |
111, 116, 141SSS F, 142SSS F, HTS |
60 built by HAL |
Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama |
France |
utility helicopter |
SA 315B Cheetah |
24 |
114, 131F, 132F |
built by HAL |
Mil Mi-17 Hip-H |
Russia |
utility helicopter |
Mi-17-1V |
0 |
112 HU |
80 ordered |
Mil Mi-8 Hip |
Soviet Union |
transport helicopter |
Mi-8
Mi-17 |
82
93 |
105,109, 110, 112,119, 121, 122F
107,118,127, 128, 129, 130, 152, 153 |
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Mil Mi-35 Hind-E |
Soviet Union |
attack helicopter |
Mi-35 |
25 |
104, 125 |
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Mil Mi-26 Halo |
Soviet Union |
transport helicopter |
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6 |
126HF |
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| TRANSPORT AIRCRAT |
Aircraft
| Origin
| Type
| Versions
| In service
| Squadrons
| Notes
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Antonov An-32 Cline |
Soviet Union |
tactical transport |
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94 |
12, 25'B', 33, 43, 48, 49, PTS, TTW |
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Avro 748 |
United Kingdom |
tactical transport |
HS 748-100 |
64 |
11, 41 'A', 59, 106 'A', 6 Cmd Flts (2 A/c) |
A handful of AVROs are used for ELINT, fitted with indigenous eqpuipment. |
Boeing 737 |
United States |
transport |
737-200 |
3 |
Air HQ Comn Sqn |
Also used for ELINT, fitted with indigenous equipment developed by the DRDO and manufactured by BEL. |
Lockheed C-130 Hercules |
United States |
tactical airlifter |
Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules |
0 |
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6 aircraft ordered. Delivery to start 2011 onwards. |
Dornier Do 228 |
Germany |
tactical transport |
Do 228-201 |
28 |
41, TTW, 6 Comm Flts (2 A/c) |
built by HAL; 12 more ordered |
Ilyushin Il-76 Candid |
Soviet Union |
transport
tanker |
Il-76
Il-78MKI |
25
6 |
44, 25 'A'
78 |
ARP-3 refueling pods from Israel |
Ilyushin Il-76 CandidPhalcon |
Russia |
AWACS |
Phalcon |
0 |
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6 to be inducted progressively from July 2008 onwards |
| Embraer EMB 135 |
Brazil |
VIP transport |
ECJ-135 Legacy |
5 |
Air HQ Comn Sqn |
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| Gulfstream III |
United States |
VIP transport |
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3 |
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| TRAINERS |
| Aircraft |
Origin |
Type |
Versions |
In service |
Notes |
BAE Hawk |
United Kingdom |
trainer |
Hawk 132 |
15 |
106 ordered (66 with follow-on order of 40) |
HAL HJT-36 Sitara |
India |
trainer |
HJT-32 Sitara |
12 |
More to be delivered |
HAL HJT-16 Kiran |
India |
trainer |
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84 |
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HAL HPT-32 Deepak |
India |
trainer |
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70 |
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| FUTURE AIRCRAFT |
| Aircraft |
Origin |
Year |
Notes |
Ilyushin/IAI Phalcon |
Russia
Israel |
2009 |
3 ordered, with 3 more to be ordered as a follow on order. AWACS with SIGINT/ELINT capabilities. |
DRDO AEW & C |
India |
2011-2013 |
3 AEW&C aircraft on order. Aircraft to have ESM/ SIGINT/ CSM ability. Locally developed by the DRDO using the Embraer ERJ-145 as the carrier. Intended to act as a vital backup node to the more expensive Phalcons, for an in-depth air defence network. More orders expected but of a more capable derivative, based on a larger aircraft platform. |
HAL Light Combat Helicopter |
India |
2010 |
Up to 200 LCH to be ordered. First flight expected in 2008. |
Lockheed C-130J Hercules |
United States |
2011 |
Six ordered for Special Operations. |
Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft |
Russia
India |
2015 |
First flight expected in 2011. Irkut has pulled out of the project after an industry realignment and has been replaced by Ilyushin. |
Medium Combat Aircraft |
India |
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Under preliminary development. Project not yet formally launched. Expected to be cleared only once LCA enters service. Expected to be a Jaguar/ Mirage 2000 replacement. |
Sukhoi T-50 |
Russia
India |
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First flight of the derivative expected in 2012. Indian Airforce plans for up to 15 Squadrons of the type. |
Attack Helicopter |
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2010 |
Upto 80 helicopters projected to support existing Mi-25/ 35 attack helicopters. RFI issued. Boeing's AH-64D Apache, MiL's Mi-28N, Kamov's Ka-52 and Eurocopter's EC-665 Tiger are the frontrunners for this deal. |
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