Indian Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search

Indian Air Force

Founded 8 October 1932; 87 years ago

Country  India

Type Air force

Role Aerial warfare

Size 139,576 active personnel[1]

Approx. 1,748+ aircraft[2][3]

Part of Indian Armed Forces

Headquarters New Delhi

Motto(s) नभः स्पश

ृ ं दीप्तम ् (Sanskrit) 

Nabhaḥ spr̥śaṁ dīptam (ISO)

transl. 'Glory that touches the sky'[4][5]

Colours Navy blue, sky blue & white 

            

Anniversaries Air Force Day: 8 October[6]

Engagements Notable operations[show]

Website indianairforce.nic.in

Commanders
Commander-in- President Ram Nath Kovind

Chief

Chief of the Air Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh

Staff (CAS) Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC

Vice Chief of the Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora, AVSM, ADC

Air Staff (VCAS)

Notable Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh,

commanders Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal,

Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee

Insignia

Aircraft flown

Attack Jaguar, Harpy

Electronic A-50E/I, DRDO AEW&CS

warfare

Fighter Rafale, Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, MiG-21, HAL

Tejas

Helicopter Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26, Mi-25/35, 

HAL Light Combat Helicopter, HAL Rudra, Apache AH-

64E, CH-47 Chinook

Reconnaissance Searcher II, Heron

 Trainer Hawk Mk 132, HJT-16 Kiran, Pilatus C-7 Mk II

Transport C-130J, C-17 Globemaster III, CH-47F (I) Chinook, Il-

76, An-32, HS 748, Do 228, Boeing 737, ERJ 135

Tanker Il-78 MKI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel
and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the air forces of the world. [7] Its primary mission is to secure
Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. It was officially established on 8
October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India's aviation service
during World War II with the prefix Royal.[8] After India gained independence from the United
Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of Dominion of
India. With the government's transition to a Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed.
Since 1950 the IAF has been involved in four wars with neighboring Pakistan and one with the
People's Republic of China. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF
include Operation  Vijay, Operation  Meghdoot, Operation  Cactus and Operation  Poomalai. The IAF's
mission expands beyond engagement with hostile forces, with the IAF participating in United Nations
peacekeeping missions.
The President of India holds the rank of Supreme Commander of the IAF.[9] As of 1 July 2017,
139,576 personnel are in service with the Indian Air Force. [10][11] The Chief of Air Staff, an air chief
marshal, is a four-starofficer and is responsible for the bulk of operational command of the Air Force.
There is never more than one serving ACM at any given time in the IAF. The rank of Marshal of the
Air Force has been conferred by the President of India on one occasion in history, to Arjan Singh.
On 26 January 2002 Singh became the first and so far, only five-star rank officer of the IAF.[12]

Mission

Evolution of the IAF roundel over the years: [13]

1. 1933–1942
2. 1942–1945
3. 1947–1950
4. 1950 – present

The IAF's mission is defined by the Armed Forces Act of 1947, the Constitution of India, and the Air
Force Act of 1950.[14] It decrees that in the aerial battlespace:
Defence of India and every part there of including preparation for defence and all such acts as may
be conducive in times of war to its prosecution and after its termination to effective demobilisation.
In practice, this is taken as a directive meaning the IAF bears the responsibility of safeguarding
Indian airspace and thus furthering national interests in conjunction with the other branches of the
armed forces. The IAF provides close air support to the Indian Army troops on the battlefield as well
as strategic and tactical airlift capabilities. The Integrated Space Cell is operated by the Indian
Armed Forces, the civilian Department of Space, and the Indian Space Research Organisation. By
uniting the civilian run space exploration organizations and the military faculty under a single
Integrated Space Cell the military is able to efficiently benefit from innovation in the civilian sector of
space exploration, and the civilian departments benefit as well. [clarification needed][15][16]
The Indian Air Force, with highly trained crews, pilots, and access to modern military assets provides
India with the capacity to provide rapid response evacuation, search-and-rescue (SAR) operations,
and delivery of relief supplies to affected areas via cargo aircraft. [17] The IAF provided extensive
assistance to relief operations during natural calamities such as the Gujarat cyclone in 1998,
the tsunami in 2004, and North India floods in 2013.[17] The IAF has also undertaken relief missions
such as Operation Rainbow in Sri Lanka.[17]

Structure
The President of India is the Supreme Commander of all Indian armed forces and by virtue of that
fact is the national Commander-in-chief of the Air Force. The Chief of the Air Staff with the rank of air
chief marshal is the Commander
Main article: List of serving air marshals of the Indian Air Force

Post Current Holder

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, PVSM,

Chief of the Air Staff
AVSM, VM, ADC[95]

Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora, AVSM, ADC[96]

Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, AVSM, VM[97]

Air Officer in Charge of Administration Air Marshal MSG Menon, VSM[98]

Air Officer in Charge of Personnel Air Marshal Amit Dev, AVSM, VSM[99]

Air Officer in Charge of Maintenance Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, VSM[100]

Director General of Inspection and

Air Marshal Manavendra Singh, AVSM, VrC, VSM[101]
Flight Safety

Director General of Air Operations

 Director General of Works and
Ceremonial

Director General of Medical Services

Air Marshal Pawan Kapoor, VSM Bar, PHS[102][103]
(Air)

In January 2002, the government conferred the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force on Arjan
Singh making him the first and only Five-star officer with the Indian Air Force and ceremonial chief of
the air force.[104]
Commands
The Indian Air Force is divided into five operational and two functional commands. Each Command
is headed by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal. The purpose of an
operational command is to conduct military operations using aircraft within its area of responsibility,
whereas the responsibility of functional commands is to maintain combat readiness. Aside from the
Training Command at Bangalore, the primary flight training is done at the Air Force
Academy (located in Hyderabad), followed by operational training at various other schools.
Advanced officer training for command positions is also conducted at the Defence Services Staff
College; specialised advanced flight training schools are located at Bidar, Karnataka and Hakimpet,
Telangana (also the location for helicopter training). Technical schools are found at a number of
other locations.[105]

Name Headquarters Commander

Central Air Command (CAC) Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar, AVSM, VM[106]

Air Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur, AVSM,

Eastern Air Command (EAC) Shillong, Meghalaya
VSM[107][108]

Southern Air Thiruvananthapuram,

Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, AVSM, VM[109]
Command (SAC) Kerala

South Western Air Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia,

Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Command (SWAC) VSM[110]

Western Air Air Marshal Balakrishnan Suresh, PVSM,

New Delhi
Command (WAC) AVSM, VM, ADC[111]

Training Command (TC)+ Bangalore, Karnataka Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola, VM,

 Name Headquarters Commander

VSM[112]

Maintenance Command (MC)
Nagpur, Maharashtra Air Marshal Shashiker Choudhary, VSM[113]
+

Note: + = Functional Command

Stations
Main article: List of Indian Air Force stations
Within each operational command are anywhere from nine to sixteen bases or stations, each
commanded by an air commodore. A station typically has one wing and one or two squadrons
assigned to it.
Wings
A wing is a formation intermediate between a command and a squadron. It generally consists of two
or three IAF squadrons and helicopter units, along with forward base support units (FBSU). FBSUs
do not have or host any squadrons or helicopter units but act as transit airbases for routine
operations. In times of war, they can become fully fledged air bases playing host to various
squadrons. In all, about 47 wings and 19 FBSUs make up the IAF. [114][115] Wings are typically
commanded by an air commodore.[116]
Squadrons and units
Squadrons are the field units and formations attached to static locations. Thus, a flying squadron or
unit is a sub-unit of an air force station which carries out the primary task of the IAF. A fighter
squadron consists of 18 aircraft; all fighter squadrons are headed by a commanding officer with the
rank of wing commander.[117] Some transport squadrons and helicopter units are headed by a
commanding officer with the rank of group captain.
Flights
Flights are sub-divisions of squadrons, commanded by a squadron leader. Each flight consists of
two sections.[118]
Sections
The smallest unit is the section, led by a flight lieutenant. Each section consists of three aircraft.
Within this formation structure, IAF has several service branches for day-to-day operations. They
are:[119]

Flying Branch Technical Branch Ground Branch

 Flying  Engineeri  Logistics

ng  Administratio
n
 Accounts
 Education
  Medical &
Dental
 Meteorologica
l

Display teams
Main articles: Surya Kiran and Sarang

Sarang display team

The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) (Surya Kiran is Sanskrit for Sun Rays) is

an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. They were formed in 1996 and are
successors to the Thunderbolts.[128] The team has a total of 13 pilots (selected from the fighter stream
of the IAF) and operate 9 HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft[128] painted in a "day-glo orange" and
white colour scheme. The Surya Kiran team were conferred squadron status in 2006, and presently
have the designation of 52 Squadron ("The Sharks").[129] The team is based at the Indian Air Force
Station at Bidar.[128] The IAF has begun the process of converting Surya Kirans to BAE Hawks. [130]
Sarang (Sanskrit for Peacock) is the Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force. The team was
formed in October 2003 and their first public performance was at the Asian Aerospace
Show, Singapore, 2004.[131] The team flies four HAL Dhruvs[132] painted in red and white with a
peacock figure at each side of the fuselage. The team is based at the Sulur Air Force
Station, Coimbatore.

Personnel
Over the years reliable sources provided notably divergent estimates of the personnel strength of the
Indian Air Force after analysing open-source intelligence. The public policy organisation
GlobalSecurity.org had estimated that the IAF had an estimated strength of 110,000 active
personnel in 1994.[105] In 2006, Anthony Cordesman estimated that strength to be 170,000 in
the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) publication "The Asian Conventional Military
Balance in 2006".[133] In 2010, James Hackett revised that estimate to an approximate strength of
127,000 active personnel in the IISS publication "Military Balance 2010".[134]
As of 1 July 2017, the Indian Air Force has a sanctioned strength of 12,550 officers (12,404 serving
with 146 under strength), and 142,529 airmen (127,172 serving with 15,357 under strength). [135][136]
Rank structure
Main article: Air Force ranks and insignia of India
The rank structure of the Indian Air Force is based on that of the Royal Air Force. The highest rank
attainable in the IAF is Marshal of the Indian Air Force, conferred by the President of India after
exceptional service during wartime. MIAF Arjan Singh is the only officer to have achieved this rank.
The head of the Indian Air Force is the Chief of the Air Staff, who holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
Officers
Anyone holding Indian citizenship can apply to be an officer in the Air Force as long as they satisfy
the eligibility criteria. There are four entry points to become an officer. Male applicants, who are
between the ages of 161/2  and 19 and have passed high school graduation, can apply at
the Intermediate level.[137] Men and women applicants, who have graduated from college (three-year
course) and are between the ages of 18 and 28, can apply at the Graduate level entry.[138] Graduates
of engineering colleges can apply at the Engineer level if they are between the ages of 18 and 28
years. The age limit for the flying and ground duty branch is 23 years of age and for technical branch
is 28 years of age.[139] After completing a master's degree, men and women between the ages of 18
and 28 years can apply at the Post Graduate level. Post graduate applicants do not qualify for the
flying branch. For the technical branch the age limit is 28 years and for the ground duty branch it is
25.[140] At the time of application, all applicants below 25 years of age must be single. [141] The IAF
selects candidates for officer training from these applicants. After completion of training, a candidate
is commissioned as a Flying Officer.[142]
Airmen

An Aircraftsman of the Indian Air Force with his uniform, Shoulder Rank Patch and INSAS rifle standing guard
at the India Gatememorial at New Delhi.

The duty of an airman is to make sure that all the air and ground operations run smoothly. From
operating Air Defence systems to fitting missiles, they are involved in all activities of an air base and
give support to various technical and non-technical jobs. [143] The airmen of Technical trades are
responsible for maintenance, repair and prepare for use the propulsion system of aircraft and other
airborne weapon delivery system, Radar, Voice/Data transmission and reception equipment, latest
airborne weapon delivery systems, all types of light, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic systems of
airborne missiles, aero engines, aircraft fuelling equipment and heavy duty mechanical vehicles,
cranes and loading equipment etc.[144] The competent and qualified Airmen from Technical trades
also participate in flying as Flight Engineers, Flight Signallers and Flight Gunners. The recruitment of
personnel below officer rank is conducted through All India Selection Tests and Recruitment Rallies.
All India Selection Tests are conducted among 15 Airmen Selection Centres (ASCs) located all over
India. These centres are under the direct functional control of Central Airmen Selection Board
(CASB), with administrative control and support by respective commands. The role of CASB is to
carry out selection and enrolment of airmen from the Airmen Selection Centres for their respective
commands.[143] Candidates initially take a written test at the time of application. Those passing the
written test undergo a physical fitness test, an interview conducted in English, and medical
examination. Candidates for training are selected from individuals passing the battery of tests, on the
basis of their performance. Upon completion of training, an individual becomes an Airman. [143] Some
MWOs and WOs are granted honorary commission in the last year of their service as an honorary
Flying Officer or Flight Lieutenant before retiring from the service.[143]
Honorary officers

 Sachin Tendulkar was the first sportsperson and the first civilian without
an aviation background to be awarded the honorary rank of group captain by the Indian Air
Force.[145]
Non combatants enrolled and civilians
Non combatants enrolled (NCs(E)) were established in British India as personal assistants to the
officer class, and are equivalent to the orderly or sahayak of the Indian Army.[146]
Almost all the commands have some percentage of civilian strength which are central government
employees. These are regular ranks which are prevalent in ministries. They are usually not posted
outside their stations and are employed in administrative and non-technical work. [147][148]
Training and education
Main article: Military academies in India
The Indian Armed Forces have set up numerous military academies across India for training its
personnel, such as the National Defence Academy (NDA). Besides the tri-service institutions, the
Indian Air Force has a Training Command and several training establishments. While technical and
other support staff are trained at various Ground Training Schools, the pilots are trained at the Air
Force Academy, Dundigul (located in Hyderabad). The Pilot Training Establishment at Allahabad,
the Air Force Administrative College at Coimbatore, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine
at Bangalore, the Air Force Technical College, Bangalore at Jalahalli, the Tactics and Air Combat
and Defence Establishment at Gwalior, and the Paratrooper's Training School at Agra are some of
the other training establishments of the IAF.

Aircraft inventory
Main article: List of active Indian military aircraft
See also: List of historical aircraft of the Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force has aircraft and equipment of Russian (erstwhile Soviet Union), British, French,
Israeli, US and Indian origins with Russian aircraft dominating its inventory. HAL produces some of
the Russian and British aircraft in India under licence. The exact number of aircraft in service with
the Indian Air Force cannot be determined with precision from open sources. Various reliable
sources provide notably divergent estimates for a variety of high-visibility aircraft. [149] Flight
International estimates there to be around 1,721 aircraft in service with the IAF, [2] while
the International Institute for Strategic Studies provides a similar estimate of 1,724 aircraft. [3] Both
sources agree there are approximately 900 combat capable (fighter, attack etc.) aircraft in the IAF. [2][3]
Multi-role fighters and strike aircraft

 Sukhoi Su-30MKI: The IAF's primary air superiority fighter with the additional capability to
conduct air-ground (strike) missions is Sukhoi Su-30MKI. The IAF have placed an order for a
total of 272 Su-30MKIs[150] of which 242[151] are in service as of January 2016.
 Mikoyan MiG-29: The Mikoyan MiG-29 known as Baaz (Hindi for Hawk) is a dedicated air
superiority fighter and constitutes a second line of defence after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. 69 MiG-
29s are in service, all of which have been recently upgraded to the MiG-29UPG standard. [152]
 Dassault Mirage 2000: The Dassault Mirage 2000, known as Vajra (Sanskrit for Diamond or
thunderbolt) in Indian service, is the primary multirole fighter, the IAF currently operates 49
Mirage 2000Hs and 8 Mirage 2000 TH all of which are currently being upgraded to the Mirage
2000-5 MK2 standard with Indian specific modifications and 2 Mirage 2000-5 MK2 are in service
as of March 2015.[153][154] The IAF's Mirage 2000 are scheduled to be phased out by 2030. [155]
 HAL Tejas: The MiG-21s are planned to be replaced by the indigenously built HAL Tejas.[156]
[157]
 The first Tejas IAF unit, No. 45 Squadron IAF Flying Daggers was formed on 1 July 2016 with
two aircraft. Initially being stationed at Bangalore, the first squadron will be placed at its home
base at Sulur, Tamil Nadu.[158] The Tejas will be 40 aircraft of the MK1 variant and 83 of the
MK1A variant. The latter will have an AESA radar, improved EW fit and internal changes for
ease of maintenance.
Tejas

 SEPECAT Jaguar: The SEPECAT Jaguar known as Shamsher serves as the IAF's primary

ground attack force.[159] The IAF currently operates 139 Jaguars.[160] The first batch of DARIN-1
Jaguars are now going through a DARIN-3 upgrade being equipped with EL/M-2052 AESA
radars, and an improved jamming suite plus new avionics. These aircraft are scheduled to be
phased out by 2030.[155]

 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21: The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 serves as an Interceptor

aircraft in the IAF. The IAF have phased out most of its MiG-21s and plans to keep only 125 that
have been upgraded to MiG-21 Bison standard.[161] The phase-out date for these aircraft has
been postponed several times. Initially set for 2014–2017, [162] it was later postponed to 2019.
[163]
 Currently phase-out is scheduled for 2021–2022. [155]
Airborne early warning and control system
The IAF is currently training the crew in operating the indigenously developed DRDO
AEW&CS flying on the Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft. The IAF also operates the EL/W-2090 Phalcon
AEW&C incorporated in a Beriev A-50 platform. A total of 3 such systems are currently in service,
with possible orders for 2 more.[164][165][166] The two extra Phalcons are currently in negotiation over price
differences between Russia and India. India is also going ahead with Project India, an inhouse
AWACS program to develop and deliver 6 Phalcon class AWACS, based on DRDO work on the
smaller AEW&CS.
Aerial refuelling
The IAF currently operates 7 Ilyushin Il-78MKIs in the aerial refuelling (tanker) role.[167][168]
Transport aircraft

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

For strategic airlift operations the IAF uses the Ilyushin Il-76, known as Gajraj (Hindi for King
Elephant) in Indian service.[169] The IAF operated 17 Il-76s in 2010, [170] which are in the process of
being replaced by C-17 Globemaster IIIs.[171][172]
The IAF C-130Js are used by special forces for combined Army-Air Force operations. [173] India
purchased six C-130Js; however one crashed at Gwalior on 28 March 2014 while on a training
mission, killing all 5 on board and destroying the aircraft. [174][175] The Antonov An-32, known in Indian
service as the Sutlej (named after Sutlej River), serves as a medium transport aircraft in the IAF. The
aircraft is also used in bombing roles and para-dropping operations. [176] The IAF currently operates
105 An-32s, all of which are being upgraded. [176] The Dornier Do 228 serves as light transport aircraft
in the IAF.[177] The IAF also operates Boeing 737s[178] and Embraer ECJ-135 Legacy aircraft[179] as VIP
transports and passenger airliners for troops. Other VIP transport aircraft are used for both
the President of India and the Prime Minister of India under the call sign Air India One.[180]
The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 once formed the backbone of the IAF's transport fleet, but are now
used mainly for training and communication duties. [181] A replacement is under consideration. [182]
Trainer aircraft

IAF BAE Hawk Mk 132

The HAL HPT-32 Deepak is IAF's basic flight training aircraft for cadets.[183] The HPT-32 was
grounded in July 2009 following a crash that killed two senior flight instructors, [184] but was revived in
May 2010[184] and is to be fitted with a parachute recovery system (PRS) to enhance survivability
during an emergency in the air and to bring the trainer down safely. [184] The HPT-32 is to be phased
out soon.[184] The HPT 32 has been replaced by Pilatus, a Swiss aircraft. The IAF uses the HAL HJT-
16 Kiran mk.I for intermediate flight training of cadets, while the HJT-16 Kiran mk.II provides
advanced flight and weapons training. [185][186] The HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 is also operated by
the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the IAF.[187] The Kiran is to be replaced by the HAL HJT-
36 Sitara.[188] The BAE Hawk Mk 132 serves as an advanced jet trainer in the IAF and is
progressively replacing the Kiran Mk.II. The IAF has begun the process of converting the Surya
Kiran display team to Hawks.[130] A total of 106 BAE Hawk trainers have been ordered by the IAF of
which 39 have entered service as of July 2010.[189] IAF also ordered 72 Pipistrel Virus SW 80
microlight aircraft for basic training purpose. [190][191]
Helicopters
Chinook helicopters

The HAL Dhruv serves primarily as a light utility helicopter in the IAF. In addition to transport and
utility roles, newer Dhruvs are also used as attack helicopters. [192] Four Dhruvs are also operated by
the Indian Air Force SarangHelicopter Display Team.[132] The HAL Chetak is a light utility helicopter
and is used primarily for training, rescue and light transport roles in the IAF. [193] The HAL Chetak is
being gradually replaced by HAL Dhruv.[193] The HAL Cheetah is a light utility helicopter used for high
altitude operations. It is used for both transport and search-and-rescue missions in the IAF. [194]
The Mil Mi-8 and the Mil Mi-17, Mi-17 1V and Mi-17V 5 are operated by the IAF for medium lift
strategic and utility roles. The Mi-8 is being progressively replaced by the Mi-17 series of helicopters.
[195][196]
 The IAF has ordered 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, 68 HAL Light Combat
Helicopters (LCH), 35 HAL Rudra attack helicopters, 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters and
150 Mi-17V-5s to replace and augment its existing fleet of Mi-8s, Mi-17s, and Mi-24s. [197] The Mil Mi-
26 serves as a heavy lift helicopter in the IAF. It can also be used to transport troops or as a flying
ambulance. The IAF currently operates three Mi-26s.[198]
The Mil Mi-35 serves primarily as an attack helicopter in the IAF. The Mil Mi-35 can also act as a
low-capacity troop transport. The IAF currently operates two squadrons (No. 104 Firebirds and No.
125 Gladiators) of Mi-25/35s.[199]
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The IAF currently uses the IAI Searcher II[200] and IAI Heron[201] for reconnaissance and surveillance
purposes. The IAI Harpy serves as an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) which is designed
to attack radar systems.[202]The IAF also operates the DRDO Lakshya which serves as realistic towed
aerial sub-targets for live fire training.[203]

Land-based missile systems

Akash missile

Surface-To Air Missiles

The air force operates twenty-five squadrons of S-125 Pechora, six squadrons of 9K33 Osa-AK,
ten flights of 9K38 Igla-1, two squadrons of Akash along with a single squadron of SPYDER for air
defence.[204][205] Six squadrons of Akash were ordered in 2010 and an order for seven more squadrons
is planned.[206] An order for eighteen SPYDER systems was placed in 2008, which is expected to be
organized into a total of four squadrons.[207][205]
Ballistic missiles
The IAF currently operates the Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). The Prithvi-II is an IAF-
specific variant of the Prithvi ballistic missile.[208]

Future
Main article: Future of the Indian Air Force
The number of aircraft in the IAF has been decreasing from the late 1990s due to the retirement of
older aircraft and several crashes. To deal with the depletion of force levels, the IAF has started to
modernise its fleet. This includes both the upgrade of existing aircraft, equipment and infrastructure
as well as induction of new aircraft and equipment, both indigenous and imported. As new aircraft
enter service and numbers recover, the IAF plans to have a fleet of 42 squadrons. [209]
Expected future acquisitions
Single-engined fighter
On 3 January 2017, Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar addressed a media conference and
announced plans for a competition to select a Strategic Partner to deliver "... 200 new single engine
fighters to be made in India, which will easily cost around (USD)$45 million apiece without
weaponry" with an expectation that Lockheed Martin (USA) and Saab (Sweden) will pitch the F-
16 Block 70 and Gripen, respectively. An MoD official said that a global tender will be put to market
in the first quarter of 2018, with a private company nominated as the strategic partners production
agency followed by a two or more year process to evaluate technical and financial bids and conduct
trials, before the final government-to-government deal in 2021. This represents 11 squadrons of
aircraft plus several 'attrition' aircraft.[210] India is also planning to set up an assembly line of
American Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 70 in Bengaluru. It is not yet confirmed
whether IAF will induct these aircraft or not.
In 2018, the current defence minister Nirmala Seetharaman gave the go ahead to scale up the
manufacturing of Tejas at HAL and also to export Tejas. She is quoted saying "We are not ditching
the LCA. We have not gone for anything instead of Tejas. We are very confident that Tejas Mark II
will be a big leap forward to fulfil the single engine fighter requirement of the forces.". [211] IAF
committed to buy 201 Mark-II variant of the Tejas taking the total order of Tejas to 324. [212] The
government also scrapped the plan to import single engine fighters leading to reduction in reliance
on imports thereby strengthening the domestic defence industry.[213]
The IAF also submitted a request for information to international suppliers for a stealth unmanned
combat air vehicle (UCAV)[214]
Current acquisitions

Dassault Rafale

The IAF has placed orders for 120 HAL Tejas fighters,[215] 36 Dassault Rafale multi-role fighters,
[216]
 112 Pilatus PC-7MkII basic trainers,[217][218] 72 HAL HJT-36 Sitara trainers,[130] 72 Pipistrel Virus SW
80 microlight aircraft,[219][191] 65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters,[220] 139 Mi-17V-5 helicopters,[197][221] 18
Israeli SPYDER Surface to Air Missile (SAM) units,[222] 6 Airbus A330 MRTT [223] 22 AH-64E Apache
Longbow heavy attack helicopters,[224] 15 CH-47F medium lift helicopters[225][226] and IAI Harop UCAVs.
[202][227]

An Indian SU-30K Flanker landing at Gwalior airbase

A C-130J Hercules on approach

Antonov An-32B at Leh Airbase

A Mil Mi-17 helicopter

An Ilyushin Il-78MKI at RIAT 2007

An AEW&C Embraer ERJ 145

A HAL Dhruv on the Indian Air Force Sarang display team

Airmen during Air Force Day celebration.

Ranks of the Indian Air Force – enlisted ranks

Junior commissioned officer Enlisted

Shoulde
r

Ar
m

Sleeve

Master Junior  Leading 

Warrant Aircraftsma
Rank warrant warrant Sergeant Corporal aircraftsma
officer n
officer officer n
 show

Equivalent ranks of Indian military

Ranks of the Indian Air Force – Officer Ranks

Shoul
der

Sleev
e

Marshal
of
Air Air  Wing  Squadro Flight 
the Air Air Vice Group  Flying 
Rank Chief  Commo Comma n  Lieutena
Indian Marshal Marshal Captain Officer
Marshal2 dore nder Leader nt
Air
Force1

 1
 Honorary/War time rank
 2
 Held only by the Chief of the Air Staff

Officers of the IAF in their uniform.

Fin flash

Flag