Indian Air Force

Motto: Nabha Sparsham Deeptam Touch the Sky with Glory Headquarters New Delhi History and Traditions History of the Indian Air Force Establishment October 08, 1932 Personnel Marshal of the Indian Air Force Chief of the Air Staff Indian Air Force ranks and insignia Aircraft Aircraft of the IAF Installations Bases

The Indian Air Force, often abbreviated as the IAF, is the world's fourth largest air force and operates more than 1130 combat and 1700 non-combat aircraft. Here is a list of those aircraft which have served the IAF, and also those which are currently or are expected to enter service: The Indian Air Force is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting aerial warfare and securing the Indian airspace. ... Image File history File links Ensign_of_the_Indian_Air_Force. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... , This article is about the capital city of India. ... The history of the Indian Air Force began with its establishment in 1932 and continues up to the present day. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years). ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh DFC was born on April 15, 1919 in Lyalpur, and educated at Montogmery (then a part of undivided India, and, now in Pakistan). ... The head of the Indian Air Force is known as The Chief of the Air Staff (currently Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi). ... The following graphs presents the officer ranks of the Indian Air Force. ... The Indian Air Force currently operates seven Air Commands. ... The Indian Air Force is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting aerial warfare and securing the Indian airspace. ...

Current aircraft

AWACS

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Squadrons	Notes
Ilyushin/IAI Phalcon	Russia  Israel	AWACS	Phalcon	Flight trial	0	6 to be inducted progressively from September 2008 onwards.[1] AWACS with SIGINT/ELINT capabilities.

Ilyushin (Russian: Илью́шин) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) aircraft manufacturer (design office prefix Il), founded by Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin. ... A Chilean Boeing 707 with a Phalcon radar fitted to its nose. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... US Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft is prepared for flight in November 1997 Cockpit of RAF E-3 Sentry undergoing upgrades Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is a radar-based electronic system designed to carry out airborne surveillance, and C3 (command, control and communications) functions for both... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Combat aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[2][3]	Trainers/ 2 Seaters[2][3]	Squadrons[2][3]	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		40 on order, another follow on order of 80 aircraft to follow. Ultimate numbers 220 airframes. [4]
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	130 6	27(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.[5][6][7]
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.

Sukhoi Su-30 MKI (NATO reporting name Flanker-H)[1] is a variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, jointly-developed by Russias Sukhoi Corporation and Indias Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Sukhoi Su-30 MKI (NATO reporting name Flanker-H)[1] is a variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, jointly-developed by Russias Sukhoi Corporation and Indias Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force. ... Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a major aerospace company under the Ministry of Defence headquartered in Bangalore, India. ... The HAL Tejas (Sanskrit:  : Radiant) is a 4. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... The HAL Tejas (Sanskrit:  : Radiant) is a 4. ... The Mirage 2000 is a French-built multirole fighter jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The crest of the IAF. No. ... The crest of the IAF. No. ... The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) is a Russian fighter aircraft used in the air superiority role. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force of Oman. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... An Indian Air Force MiG-27 Flogger. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The crest of the IAF. No. ... The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Russian: ) (NATO reporting name Fishbed), and popularly nicknamed balalaika, from the aircrafts planform-view resemblance to the famous Russian stringed musical instrument, is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed and built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The crest of the IAF. No. ...

Helicopters

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[2]	Squadrons[2]	Notes
HAL Dhruv	India	utility helicopter		64	117, 132, 151	deliveries underway, over 300 to be acquired.[8]
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[9]
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
Mil Mi-35 Hind-E	Soviet Union	attack helicopter	Mi-35	25	104, 125
Mil Mi-26 Halo	Soviet Union	transport helicopter		6	126HF

The HAL Dhruv (Sanskrit:Pole Star) is a multi-role advanced helicopter made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... It has been suggested that IAR 316 be merged into this article or section. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Aérospatiale Lama is a light mono-engined utility helicopter originally manufactured by Aerospatiale of France. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Mil Mi-17 The Mil Mi-17 (Also known as the Mi-8MT, NATO reporting name Hip-H) is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Mil Mi-24 (Cyrillic Миль Ми-24, NATO reporting name Hind) is a large helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated from 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Mil Mi-26 (NATO reporting name Halo) is a Russian/Soviet heavy transport helicopter in service in civilian and military roles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ...

Transport aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[2]	Squadrons[2]	Notes
Antonov An-32 Cline	Soviet Union	tactical transport		94	12, 25'B', 33, 43, 48, 49, PTS, TTW
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		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
Embraer EMB 135	Brazil	VIP transport	ECJ-135 Legacy	5	Air HQ Comn Sqn
Gulfstream III	United States	VIP transport		3

The Antonov An-32 (NATO reporting name: Cline) is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Avro 748 was a small short-range turboprop airliner designed by Avro in the late 1950s as a replacement for the now-aged DC-3s then in widespread service as feederliners. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Boeing 737 is a short to medium range, single aisle, narrow body jet airliner. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Dornier Do 228 is a small German twin turboprop STOL-utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH (later DASA Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier) from 1981 until 1998. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... The Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO reporting name: Candid) is a 4-engined strategic airlifter designed in the Soviet Union and in widespread use in eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four-engined inflight refuelling tanker based on the Il-76. ... The Embraer ERJ 145 family of regional jets are produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... The C-20 Gulfstream is the military designation of the commercial Gulfstream bizjets used by the US military forces. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Trainers

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[10]	Squadrons[2]	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[11]
HAL HJT-16 Kiran	India	trainer		84
HAL HPT-32 Deepak	India	trainer		70

The BAE Systems (BAE) Hawk is an advanced jet trainer which first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The HAL Hindustan Jet Trainer-36 Sitara (Sanskrit: Morning star ) is an Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) trainer aircraft under development by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) ARDC (Aircraft Research and Design Center) for the Indian Air Force. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... The HAL HJT-16 Kiran is an Indian two-seat basic jet trainer built by Hindustan Aeronautics. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... HAL HPT-32 Deepak is an Indian prop-driven primary trainer manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ...

Future aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Year	Notes
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.
NAL Saras	India	2011	Initial order for 15 aircrafts and 30 more to be procured.[12][13]
Medium Combat Aircraft	India		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		First flight of the derivative expected in 2012. Indian Airforce plans for up to 15 Squadrons of the type.
Attack Helicopter		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.[14]

Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Previously known as the LAH (Light attack helicopter), and not to be confused with the Lancer LAH (Light attack Helicopter), which is a derivative of the Cheetah helicopter, HALs recently rechristened Light Combat Helicopter (LCH ) is a dedicated combat and gunship variant of the existing Advanced Light Helicopter(Dhruv... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and United Kingdom military forces. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Saras at Aero India 2007. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... MCA speculative drawing The twin-engined Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) is a stealth 5th generation strike aircraft being developed by India. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... The PAK FA (or PAK-FA), also known as the Sukhoi Su-50 is a fifth-generation fighter jet which is being developed by Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... A Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter. ...

Historical aircraft

Fighters

• Mig-23MF
• Hawker Hunter
• HAL Ajeet
• Folland Gnat built by HAL under licence from Folland in the UK
• Dassault Mystère IV
• Dassault Ouragan (Toofani)
• De Havilland Vampire
• Supermarine Spitfire
• Hawker Tempest
• Hawker Hurricane

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Flogger). ... The Hawker Hunter was a British jet fighter aircraft of the 1950s and 1960s. ... The HAL Ajeet was an Indian development of the British Folland Gnat Fighter that had been built under licence in India. ... The Folland Gnat was an exceptionally small, swept-wing British subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft originally developed for the Royal Air Force, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force. ... Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a major aerospace company under the Ministry of Defence based in Bangalore, India. ... Privately owned Folland Gnat Folland was the builder of the Folland Gnat lightweight fighter and trainer, designed by W. E. W Petter who had previously designed the Lysander, Canberra and Lightning. ... The Dassault MD.454 Mystère IV is a 1950s French fighter-bomber aircraft. ... Dassault Ouragan was an aircraft designed during World War II. Although the French, as citizens of an occupied country, were not able to contribute significantly to the great strides made in aircraft design made during World War II, after the war Marcel Dassault saw no reason why the French could... The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was the second jet-engined aircraft commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War (the first being the Gloster Meteor), although it did not see combat in that conflict. ... The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ... Hawker Tempest II, RAF Museum, Hendon The Hawker Tempest was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter aircraft of World War II, an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighters used in the war. ... The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. ...

Bombers/Ground attack

• HAL HF-24 Marut (1969-1985)
• B-24J Liberator
• English Electric Canberra
• Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter
• Bristol Blenheim
• Vultee A-31 Vengeance ^[15]
• Hawker Hart (Audax India)

HAL HF-24 Marut The Hindustan Aeronautics HF-24 Marut (Sanskrit: storm deity) was an Indian fighter-bomber aircraft of the 1960s. ... Royal Canadian Air Force B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was produced in greater numbers than any other American combat aircraft, and was used by most of the Allied air forces in World War II. Designed as a heavy bomber, it served with distinction not only in that... The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. ... The Sukhoi Su-7 (NATO designation Fitter) was a swept wing, turbojet-powered fighter-bomber used by the Soviet Union and its allies. ... The Bristol Blenheim is also the name of the main model produced by Bristol Cars since 1994. ... The Vultee A-31 Vengeance was a dive-bomber built originally in the late 1930s as the Vultee Model 72 (V-72) by the Vultee Corporation. ... The Hawker Hart was a two-seater biplane light-bomber of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which had a prominent role during the RAFs inter-war period. ...

General purpose

• Westland Wapiti ^[16]
• Westland Lysander ^[17]

The Westland Wapiti was a British general purpose military single engined biplane of the 1920s built by Westland Aircraft Works to a specification for a replacement of the DH9a in RAF service. ... Westland Lysander III (SD). ...

Transport aircraft

• Douglas C-47 Dakota
• De Havilland Devon
• IL-14 Crate
• DHC-3 Otter
• C-119G Flying Boxcar
• Lockheed Super Constellation
• DHC-4 Caribou
• Tu-124 Cookpot
• AN-12 Cub

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. ... de Havilland Dove The de Havilland DH.104 Dove was a British monoplane short-haul airliner from de Havilland, the successor to the bi-plane de Havilland Dragon Rapide and was one of Britains most successful post-war civil designs. ... Il-14M This article is about the airplane; for information on the cytokine for stimulating the growth of T cell lymphocytes, see Interleukin 14. ... The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single engined, high wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. ... The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was a U.S. military transport aircraft developed from the World War II Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute. ... TWA was one of the most well-known Constellation operators. ... The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (known in the US military as CV-2 and C-7 Caribou) was designed as a specialized transport with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. ... The Tupolev Tu-124 (NATO codename: Cookpot) is a Russian short range twinjet airliner capable of carrying 56 passengers. ... The Antonov An-12 (NATO reporting name: Cub) is a four-engined turboprop transport aircraft. ...

Helicopters

• Mil Mi-4
• Sikorsky S55 Whirlwind
• Bell 47 G-2

The Mil Mi-4 (originally known to US intelligence as the Type-36 and later by the NATO reporting name Hound) was a Soviet transport helicopter that served in both military and civilian roles. ... The Sikorsky H-19, (also known as the S-55) was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army. ... The Bell 47 was the first helicopter to be certified for civil use on 8 March 1946. ...

Reconnaissance

• Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta
• Mig-25

The Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta was a 1920s British four-engined airliner built by Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Limited at Coventry. ... MiG 25 Foxbat The MiG-25 (NATO reporting name Foxbat) is a high-speed interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft produced by the Soviet Unions Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau. ...

Trainers

• HAL HT-2
• PZL TS-11 Iskra: 50 Iskra bis D Polish jet trainer aircraft were bought by India in 1975, then a further 26 in the 1990s. All Iskra aircraft were withdrawn from the IAF by December 16, 2004. ^[18]
• North AmericanT-6 Texan
• De Havilland DH82 Tigermoth
• Percival Prentice

TS-11 Iskra front viev The PZL TS-11 Iskra (Polish for Spark) is a Polish jet trainer aircraft, used by the air forces of Poland and India. ... A Pratt and Whitney turbofan engine for the F-15 Eagle is tested at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, USA. The tunnel behind the engine muffles noise and allows exhaust to escape. ... A trainer is a training aircraft used to develop piloting, navigational or weapon-aiming skills in flight crew. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the first T-6 Texan. ... The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth was a 1930s biplane designed by de Havilland and operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. ... The Percival Prentice was an ab initio trainer of the Royal Air Force in the early post-war period, contemporary with the de Havilland Chipmunk. ...

See also

• Indian Air Force
• Military of India
• Indian Navy
• India

The Indian Air Force is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting aerial warfare and securing the Indian airspace. ... The military of India, officially known as the Indian armed forces, is the primary military organisation responsible for the territorial security and defense of India. ... The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. ...

References