Indian Air Force

भारतीय वायु सेना
Ensign of the Indian Air Force
Active	8 October 1932 – present
Country	India
Branch	Air Force
Size	170,000 active personnel 1300 aircraft[1]
Part of	Ministry of Defence Indian Armed Forces
Headquarters	New Delhi, India
Motto	नभःस्पृशं दीप्तम् Sanskrit: Nabhaḥ-Spṛśaṃ Dīptam "Touch the Sky with Glory"
Colour	Navy blue, Sky blue & White
Anniversaries	Air Force Day: 8th October
Engagements	World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Congo Crisis Operation Vijay Sino-Indian War Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Bangladesh Liberation War Operation Meghdoot Operation Poomalai Operation Pawan Operation Cactus Kargil War
Decorations	Indian Military Honour Awards
Battle honours	Param Vir Chakra
Website	indianairforce.nic.in
Commanders
Chief of the Air Staff	Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik
Vice Chief of the Air Staff	Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora
Insignia
Crest
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Attack	Jaguar, MiG-27, Harpy
Electronic warfare	IAI Phalcon
Fighter	Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, MiG-21
Helicopter	Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26, Mi-25/35
Reconnaissance	Searcher II, Heron
Trainer	HPT-32 Deepak, HJT-16 Kiran, Hawk Mk 132
Transport	Il-76, An-32, HS 748, Do 228, Boeing 737, ERJ 135, Il-78MKI

Current aircraft

Photo	Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes on aircraft
Fighter aircraft
	HAL Tejas	India	Multi-role		0	4 aircraft are in the IAF inventory though Initial Operating Clearance is expected only in December 2010. 48 aircraft of the type are on order.
	Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker-H	Russia/ India	Air superiority fighter	Su-30MKI	122	The IAF have placed an order for a total of 272 Su-30MKIs of which 124 have been inducted as of July 2010 and two have been lost in crashes. The IAF will receive 40 upgraded Su-30MKIs capable of carrying the BrahMos cruise missile possibly by 2012.
	Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum	Soviet Union	Air superiority fighter	MiG-29S	69	Known as Baaz (Hindi for Hawk) in IAF. All being upgraded to the SMT standard.
	Dassault Mirage 2000	France	Multi-role fighter	Mirage 2000H	51	Known as Vajra (Hindi for Thunderbolt) in the IAF. All are to be upgraded to Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 variant.
	Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21	Soviet Union	Interceptor/fighter	MiG-21 Bison MiG-21Bis	121	Upgraded MiG-21 Bison to be phased out by 2017 Other 80-90 Non-upgraded MiG-21s not included here to be phased out in 2012/2013
Total Combat aircraft					363	4 Tejas in evaluation. 80-90 Mig-21s being phased out.
Ground attack/Bomber aircraft
	Jaguar IS/IM	France United Kingdom	Bomber	Jaguar IS/IM	139	Known as Shamsher in IAF service.
	Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27	Soviet Union	Ground Attack	MiG-27UPG	100+	Known as Bahadur (Hindi for Valiant) in IAF service.
Total Ground attack/Bomber aircraft					239+
Trainer aircraft
	HAL HPT-32 Deepak	India	Basic Trainer (BJT)		70	The HPT-32 was grounded in July 2009 , but was revived in May 2010 and is to be fitted with a parachute recovery system (PRS). The HPT-32 is to be phased out soon.
	HAL HJT-16 Kiran	India	Intermediate Trainer (IJT)	HJT-16	80	The HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 is also operated by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the IAF. The Kiran is to be replaced by the HAL HJT-36 Sitara.[23]
	BAE Hawk	United Kingdom	Advanced Trainer (AJT)	Hawk 132	39	A total of 106 BAE Hawk trainers have been ordered by the IAF.
Total Trainers Aircraft					189
Transport aircraft[4]
	Embraer EMB 135	Brazil	VIP transport	ECJ-135 Legacy	5
	Boeing Business Jet	United States	VIP transport	737-800	3
	Dornier Do 228	Germany India	very Light Transport	Do 228-201	40
	Hawker Siddeley HS 748	United Kingdom	Light Transport	HS 748-100	64	Once formed the backbone of the IAF's transport fleet, but now used mainly for transport training and communication duties.
	Antonov An-32 Cline	Soviet Union	Medium Transport	An-32	105	Known as Sutlej (name of an Indian river) in IAF service. All are being upgraded.
	Ilyushin Il-76 Candid	Soviet Union	Heavy Transport	Il-76	24	Known as Gajraj (Hindi for King Elephant) in IAF service.
Total Transport Aircraft					229
AEW&C[4]
	Il-76 EL/M-2075 Phalcon	Russia Israel	AEW&C	EL/M-2075 Phalcon	3	A total of 3 such systems have been ordered. The expected delivery date for the third aircraft is December 2010. The IAF is now keen to order 2 more Phalcon systems.
Total number of AWACS					2
Air Tanker Aircraft
	Ilyushin Il-78 MKI	Russia Israel	Il-76	IL-78MKI	6
Total number of Air Tanker Aircraft					6
Helicopters
	HAL Dhruv	India	Utility helicopter	Dhruv	36	In addition to transport and utility roles, Dhruvs are also used as attack helicopters. 4 Dhruvs are also operated by the Indian Air Force Sarang Helicopter Display Team.
	Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama	France	Utility helicopter	SA 315B Cheetah/Cheetal	28	Used mainly for high altitude operations. It is used for both transport and search-and-rescue missions.
	Mil Mi-26 Halo	Soviet Union	Transport helicopter	Mi-26	4
	Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	Transport helicopter	Mi-8	82	The Mi-8 is being progressively replaced by the Mi-17.
	Mi-17	Soviet Union	Transport helicopter		52	The IAF has ordered 80 Mi-17V-5s to replace and augment its existing fleet of Mi-8s and Mi-17s, with an order for 59 additional helicopters to follow soon.
	Mil Mi-35 Hind-E	Soviet Union	Attack helicopter	Mi-35	20	Can also act as a low-capacity troop transport.
	Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III	France	Utility	-	92	Used primarily for training, rescue and light transport roles in the IAF. The HAL Chetak is scheduled to be replaced by HAL's Advanced Light Helicopter.
Total number of Helicopters					314
Unmanned Air Vehicles
	Lakshya PTA	India		Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA)	~10	23 were orderd by India to be operated by the IAF, Indian army and Indian Navy.
	IAI Harpy	Israel		Fire & Forget Radar Emitter Destroyer	?	A UAV explosive which attacks enemy radars, but also destroys its self.
	IAI Heron	Israel	Heron I/II	Strategic Multi-Role UAV	~25	India orderd 50 to be deployed by the IAF and Indian Navy.
	IAI Searcher	Israel	Searcher II		100+
Total Unmanned Air Vehicles					135+
Total Aircraft					1,327+ aircraft and 135+ UAVs