Indian Air Force: Difference between revisions

{{Heading1|title=भारतीय वायु सेना}}

The '''Indian Air Force''' ('''IAF''') (''Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā'' ''"<mark>नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम्</mark>"'') is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British India which honoured India's aviation service during World War II.

Since 1950, the IAF has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactusand 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. As of 1 January 2025, 135,000 personnel are in service with the Indian Air Force. The Chief of the Air Staff, an air chief marshal, is a four-star officer 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.

== Mission ==

The IAF's mission is defined by the Armed Forces Act of 1947, the Constitution of India, and the Air Force Act of 1950. It decrees that in the aerial battlespace:<blockquote>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.</blockquote>

* Rescue of civilians during natural disasters

* Evacuation of Indian nationals from foreign countries in case of instability or other problems

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 organisations 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.

== History ==

=== Formation and early pilots ===

In recognition of the valiant service by the IAF, King George VI conferred the prefix "Royal" in 1945. Thereafter the IAF was referred to as the ''Royal Indian Air Force''. In 1950, when India became a republic, the prefix was dropped and it reverted to being the Indian Air Force.

=== First years of independence (1947–1950) ===

After it became independent from the British Empire in 1947, British India was partitioned into the new states of the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Along the lines of the geographical partition, the assets of the air force were divided between the new countries. India's air force retained the name of the Royal Indian Air Force, but three of the ten operational squadrons and facilities, located within the borders of Pakistan, were transferred to the Royal Pakistan Air Force. The RIAF Roundel was changed to an interim 'Chakra' roundel derived from the Ashoka Chakra.

Around the same time, war broke out between them over the control of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. With Pakistani forces moving into the state, its Maharaja decided to accede to India in order to receive military help. The day after, the Instrument of Accession was signed, the RIAF was called upon to transport troops into the war zone. And this was when a good management of logistics came into help. This led to the eruption of full-scale war between India and Pakistan, though there was no formal declaration of war. During the war, the RIAF did not engage the Pakistan Air Force in air-to-air combat; however, a couple of IAF Hawker Tempest fighters did intercept a Pakistani Douglas DC-3 transport aircraft & tried to shoot it down but the pilot of the DC-3 (Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar) managed to evade the fighters.Other than that, it also provided effective transport and close air support to the Indian troops.

=== Congo crisis and Annexation of Goa (1960–1961) ===

In late 1961, the Indian government decided to attack the Portuguese colony of Goa after years of disagreement between New Delhi and Lisbon. The Indian Air Force was requested to provide support elements to the ground force in what was called Operation Vijay. Probing flights by some fighters and bombers were carried out from 8–18 December to draw out the Portuguese Air Force, but to no avail. On 18 December, two waves of Canberra bombers bombed the runway of Dabolim airfield taking care not to bomb the Terminals and the ATC tower. Two Portuguese transport aircraft (a Super Constellation and a DC-6) found on the airfield were left alone so that they could be captured intact. However the Portuguese pilots managed to take off the aircraft from the still damaged airfield and made their getaway to Portugal. Hunters attacked the wireless station at Bambolim. Vampires were used to provide air support to the ground forces. In Daman, Mystères were used to strike Portuguese gun positions. Ouragans (called Toofanis in the IAF) bombed the runways at Diu and destroyed the control tower, wireless station and the meteorological station. After the Portuguese surrendered the former colony was integrated into India.

=== Border disputes and changes in the IAF (1962–1971) ===

In 1962, border disagreements between China and India escalated to a war when China mobilised its troops across the Indian border. During the Sino-Indian War, India's military planners failed to deploy and effectively use the IAF against the invading Chinese forces. This resulted in India losing a significant amount of advantage to the Chinese; especially in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the 1965 war, the IAF underwent a series of changes to improve its capabilities. In 1966, the Para Commandos regiment was created. To increase its logistics supply and rescue operations ability, the IAF inducted 72 HS 748s which were built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from Avro. India started to put more stress on indigenous manufacture of fighter aircraft. As a result, HAL HF-24 Marut, designed by the famed German aerospace engineer Kurt Tank, were inducted into the air force. HAL also started developing an improved version of the Folland Gnat, known as HAL Ajeet. At the same time, the IAF also started inducting Mach 2 capable Soviet MiG-21 and Sukhoi Su-7 fighters.

=== Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) ===

Within the first two weeks, the IAF had carried out almost 12,000 sorties over East Pakistan and also provided close air support to the advancing Indian Army. IAF also assisted the Indian Navy in its operations against the Pakistani Navy in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. On the western front, the IAF destroyed more than 20 Pakistani tanks, 4 APCs and a supply train during the Battle of Longewala. The IAF undertook strategic bombing of West Pakistan by carrying out raids on oil installations in Karachi, the Mangla Dam and a gas plant in Sindh. Similar strategy was also deployed in East Pakistan and as the IAF achieved complete air superiority on the eastern front, the ordnance factories, runways, and other vital areas of East Pakistan were severely damaged. By the time Pakistani forces surrendered, the IAF destroyed 94 PAF Aircraft The IAF was able to conduct a wide range of missions – troop support; air combat; deep penetration strikes; para-dropping behind enemy lines; feints to draw enemy fighters away from the actual target; bombing; and reconnaissance. In contrast, the Pakistan Air Force, which was solely focused on air combat, was blown out of the subcontinent's skies within the first week of the war. Those PAF aircraft that survived took refuge at Iranian air bases or in concrete bunkers, refusing to offer a fight. Hostilities officially ended at 14:30 GMT on 17 December, after the fall of Dacca on 15 December. India claimed large gains of territory in West Pakistan (although pre-war boundaries were recognised after the war), and the independence of Pakistan's East wing as Bangladesh was confirmed. The IAF had flown over 16,000 sorties on both East and West fronts; including sorties by transport aircraft and helicopters. while the PAF flew about 30 and 2,840. More than 80 per cent of the IAF's sorties were close-support and interdiction, and according to neutral assessments about 45 IAF Aircraft were lost while, Pakistanlost 75 aircraft. Not including any F-6s, Mirage IIIs, or the six Jordanian F-104s which failed to return to their donors. But the imbalance in air losses was explained by the IAF's considerably higher sortie rate, and its emphasis on ground-attack missions. On the ground Pakistan suffered most, with 9,000 killed and 25,000 wounded while India lost 3,000 dead and 12,000 wounded. The loss of armoured vehicles was similarly imbalanced. This represented a major defeat for Pakistan. Towards the end of the war, IAF's transport planes dropped leaflets over Dhaka urging the Pakistani forces to surrender, demoralising Pakistani troops in East Pakistan.

=== Incidents before Kargil (1984–1988) ===

In 1984, India launched Operation Meghdoot to capture the Siachen Glacier in the contested Kashmirregion. In Op Meghdoot, IAF's Mi-8, Chetak and Cheetah helicopters airlifted hundreds of Indian troops to Siachen. Launched on 13 April 1984, this military operation was unique because of Siachen's inhospitable terrain and climate. The military action was successful, given the fact that under a previous agreement, neither Pakistan nor India had stationed any personnel in the area. With India's successful Operation Meghdoot, it gained control of the Siachen Glacier. India has established control over all of the 70 kilometres (43 mi) long Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as the three main passes of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier—Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge. According to the ''TIME'' magazine, India gained more than 3,000 square kilometres (1,000 sq mi) of territory because of its military operations in Siachen.

Following the inability to negotiate an end to the Sri Lankan Civil War, and to provide humanitarian aid through an unarmed convoy of ships, the Indian Government decided to carry out an airdrop of the humanitarian supplies on the evening of 4 June 1987 designated Operation Poomalai (Tamil: Garland) or Eagle Mission 4. Five An-32s escorted by four Mirage 2000 of 7 Sqn AF, 'The Battleaxes', carried out the supply drop which faced no opposition from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. Another Mirage 2000 orbited 150 km away, acting as an airborne relay of messages to the entire fleet since they would be outside radio range once they descended to low levels. The Mirage 2000 escort formation was led by Wg Cdr Ajit Bhavnani, with Sqn Ldrs Bakshi, NA Moitra and JS Panesar as his team members and Sqn Ldr KG Bewoor as the relay pilot. Sri Lanka accused India of "blatant violation of sovereignty". India insisted that it was acting only on humanitarian grounds.

=== 2025 India-Pakistan conflict ===

On May 7, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched Operation Sindoor,in response to the Pahalgam Attack. The operation was carefully orchestrated as a high-precision, intelligence-driven punitive strike targeting nine confirmed terrorist camps across the Line of Control and deeper within Pakistan. The IAF conducted coordinated attacks on critical targets, including the Nur Khan and Rahimyar Khan air bases, utilizing advanced indigenous platforms and the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) for real-time, multi-domain coordination. Indian fighter aircraft and loitering munitions successfully penetrated and neutralized Chinese-origin Pakistani air defense systems through strategic jamming and evasion, completing the mission within just 23 minutes. The operation also highlighted the exemplary synergy between the three services, with the Indian Army and Navy providing essential support in air defense and maritime surveillance, respectively. While full details remain limited, reports indicate that the Indian Air Force employed a combination of decoy and anti-radiation drones, such as the IAI Harop, alongside a range of long-range stand-off weapons. These included cruise missiles like the BrahMos and SCALP, as well as solid-propellant precision-guided munitions such as the Israeli-origin Crystal Maze and Rampage missiles.

The Indian Air Force’s precision strikes not only reportedly "dismantled terrorist infrastructure", It delivered a "significant setback" to Pakistan’s military capabilities, reportedly setting back its air power by "five years" through the destruction of radar coverage, command and control systems, and critical assets at multiple airbases. According to India, more than 100 terrorists across 9 "terror hubs", including high-value targets, were neutralized, and key Pakistani military installations were rendered inoperable. Throughout the campaign, Indian forces maintained strict rules of engagement, initially focusing exclusively on terrorist-linked infrastructure and avoiding escalation, which underscored the nation’s commitment to strategic restraint and professionalism. The operation was recognized as a demonstration of India’s growing self-reliance in defense technology and its ability to conduct complex, integrated military operations with precision and discipline, thereby altering the regional security landscape in India’s favor.

India’s defense attaché to Indonesia, Captain Shiva Kumar, said Indian forces shifted strategy after May 7 by targeting Pakistani military sites. He noted that suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD and DEAD) enabled effective missile strikes, leading to "complete air superiority" from May 8 to 10. Tommy Tamtomo, vice chairman of the Indonesia Center of Air Power Studies, stated at a seminar in Jakarta that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had lost six fighter jets, two Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft, and a military transport plane during the conflict.

== Structure ==

=== Commands ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"

!Name

=== Garud Commando Force ===

The Garud commandos are the special forces of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Their tasks include counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, providing security to IAF's vulnerably located assets and various air force-specific special operations. First conceived in 2002, this unit was officially established on 6 February 2004.

All Garuds are volunteers who are imparted a 52-week basic training, which includes a three-month probation followed by special operations training, basic airborne training and other warfare and survival skills. The last phase of basic training sees Garuds been deployed to get combat experience. Advanced training follows, which includes specialised weapons training.

The mandated tasks of the Garuds include direct action, special reconnaissance, rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory, establishing airbases in hostile territory and providing air-traffic control to these airbases. The Garuds also undertake suppression of enemy air defences and the destruction of other enemy assets such as radars, evaluation of the outcomes of Indian airstrikes and use laser designators to guide Indian airstrikes.

=== Defence Space Agency ===

The Defence Space Agency, an integrated tri-services agency, which draws its personnel from all the three services of the Indian armed forces, is set up to operate the space-warfare and Satellite Intelligence assets of India.

=== Display teams ===

''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''. The team has a total of 13 pilots (selected from the fighter stream of the IAF) and operate 9 Bae Hawk mk.132 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"''). The team is based at the Indian Air Force Station at Bidar. The team earlier used to fly HAL HJT-16 Kiran.

== Personnel ==

In 2017, there was a shortage of 15,503 personnel out of an authorized strength of 155,000.

In mid-2019, the air force had 12,142 officers out of an authorized strength of 12,625, and 129,094 enlisted personnel out of an authorized 142,917.

Personnel strength on 1 March 2022 was 138,994 enlisted and 12,143 officers.

{| class="wikitable"

In 2025, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) listed active personnel strength at 149,900.

=== Rank structure ===

* <abbr>t</abbr>

* <abbr>e</abbr>

|-

| colspan="2" |Marshal of the Indian Air Force

==== Airmen ====

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

{| class="wikitable"

* <abbr>t</abbr>

* <abbr>e</abbr>

----

| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |

| colspan="2" |'''No insignia'''

|-

=== Multi-role fighters and strike aircraft ===

The Indian Air Force has been reported to have a shortage of combat aircraft count. As of December 2025, the IAF has 29 combat squadrons as against a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. This strength is on par with the IAF's fighter fleet during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. The squadron strength of the IAF had peaked in 1996 at 41 squadrons but dwindled gradually to 35 units in 2013 and to 31 in 2025. In response, the Ministry of Defence appointed a five-member Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of IAF which analysed and reported the "key thrust areas and recommendations" necessary for "achieving the desired capability enhancement goals" to the Ministry.

* Dassault Rafale: the latest addition to India's aircraft arsenal; India has signed a deal for 36 Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. As of June 2022, 36 Rafale fighters are in service with the Indian Air Force.

* HAL Tejas: IAF MiG-21s are to be replaced by domestically built HAL Tejas. The first Tejas IAF unit, No. 45 Squadron IAF ''Flying Daggers'', was formed on 1 July 2016, followed by No. 18 Squadron IAF "Flying Bullets" on 27 May 2020. Initially stationed at Bangalore, the first squadron was then to be transferred to its home base in Sulur, Tamil Nadu. In February 2021, the Indian Air Force ordered 83 Tejas, including 40 Mark 1, 73 single-seat Mark 1As and 10 two-seat Mark 1 trainers. Total 123 ordered.

* Mikoyan MiG-29: the MiG-29, known as ''Baaz'' (Hindi for Hawk), is a dedicated air superiority fighter, constituting the IAF's second line of defence after the Su-30MKI. There are 69 MiG-29s in service, all of which have been recently upgraded to the MiG-29UPG standard, after the decision was made in 2016 to upgrade the remaining 21 MiG-29s to the UPG standard.

* Dassault Mirage 2000: the Mirage 2000, known as ''Vajra'' (Sanskrit for diamond or thunderbolt) in Indian service. 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. The IAF's Mirage 2000 were scheduled to be phased out by 2030.

=== Airborne early warning and control system ===

The IAF operates three Netra Embraer ERJ 145I aircraft. The IAF also operates the EL/W-2090Phalcon AEW&C incorporated in a Beriev A-50 platform. A total of three such systems are currently in service, with two further potential orders. India is also investing in a DRDO project to develop six new Airborne AEW&C aircraft, as an upgrade to the Netra systems.

=== Aerial refuelling ===

The IAF currently operates six Ilyushin Il-78MKIs in the aerial refueling (tanker) role.

=== Transport aircraft ===

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.A replacement in the form of licence-built C-295 is currently being commissioned into the Air Force.

=== Trainer aircraft ===

|-

|Spike NLOS

| rowspan="5" |Air launched Anti-tank guided missile

|—

|9M120 Ataka-V

(AT-9 Spiral-2)

|—

| Russia

|9K114 Shturm

(AT-6 Spiral)

|800

| Russia

|-

|Dhruvastra

|—

| India

|-

|BrahMos

|Supersonic air launched cruise missile

|Unknown

|-

|Storm Shadow

|Subsonic air launched cruise missile

|Unknown

|-

|Kh-35

|Subsonic air launched cruise missile

|Unknown

|-

|Rampage

|Air launched ballistic missile

|Unknown

|-

|Pralay

|Short-range quasi ballistic missile

|120 on order

|-

|Prithvi II

|Short-range ballistic missile

|Unknown

|-

|Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) Mk-II

|Exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile / Anti-satellite weapon

|Unknown

|-

|Advanced Air Defence (AAD)

|Endo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile

|Unknown

|-

|Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)

|Exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile

|Unknown

|-

|S-400 Triumph

|Long-range surface-to-air missile system

|3 regiments

|-

|Barak-8 (MR-SAM)

| rowspan="2" |Medium-range surface-to-air missile

|18 squadrons

|-

|Akash

|15 squadrons (120 launchers)

| India

|-

|SPYDER

|Short and Medium range surface-to-air missile

|18 Systems (Batteries)

|-

|S-125 (SA-3 Goa)

|25 Squadrons for IAF

| Soviet Union

|-

|9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko)

|80

| Soviet Union

|9K38 Igla (SA-18)

----9K338 Igla-S

|Man-portable air-defense system

|2500

=== Current acquisitions ===

IAF's current orders include

* EADS CASA C-295: 55 on order

* IAI Harop UCAVs

=== DRDO and HAL projects ===

In partnership with ''Threye'', a Delhi based game developer, The IAF launched ''Guardians of the Skies'', a roleplaying combat game for mobile devices in 2014. The IAF would later also create a successor, titled ''Indian Air Force: A Cut Above'', in 2019.