All Aircrafts Operated By The Indian Airforce

Pranjal Ray
March 17, 2021
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The Indian Airforce is the world’s 4^th largest standing air force according to Global Firepower magazine. Compared to some of the larger air forces, India’s air force is quite small with only about 2,185 aircraft and 139,576 personnel. Over the last few years, the Indian Air Force has been upgrading its fleet to keep up with the world’s more advanced air forces. According to the Indian Air Force, there are plans to add more Su-30 MKI aircraft, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), and the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) to its fleet. The IAF is also considering upgrading its medium-lift helicopters, which include the Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-17-IVs, as well as the AN – 32 transport aircraft.

The inventory of the airforce is huge with various types of transport, support, combat, and utility helicopters and aircraft. Here we try to list all the active planes and helicopters maintained by the Indian Air Force.

SU-30 MKI: Twin seater twin-engine multirole fighter of Russian origin which carries One X 30mm GSH gun along with 8000 kg external armament. It is capable of carrying a variety of medium-range guided air-to-air missiles with active or semi-active radar or Infrared homing close range missiles. It has a max speed of 2500 km/hr (Mach 2.35).
Mirage-2000: A single-seater air defence and multi-role fighter of French origin powered by a single-engine can attain a max speed of 2495 km/hr(Mach 2.3). It carries two 30 mm integral cannons and two Matras super 530D medium-range and two R-550 magic II close combat missiles on external stations.
MiG-29: Twin engine, single seater air superiority fighter aircraft of Russian origin capable of attaining max. speed of 2445 km per hour (Mach-2.3). It has a combat ceiling of 17 km. It carries a 30 mm cannon along with four R-60 close combat and two R-27 R medium-range radar-guided missiles.
MiG-21 BISON: Single engine, single seater multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft of Russian origin which forms the backbone of the IAF. It has a max speed of 2230 km/hr (Mach 2.1) and carries one 23mm twin-barrel cannon with four R-60 close combat missiles.
Jaguar: A twin-engine, single seater deep penetration strike aircraft of Anglo-French origin which has a max. speed of 1350 km /hr (Mach 1.3). It has two 30mm guns and can carry two R-350 Magic CCMs (overwing) along with 4750 kg of external stores (bombs/fuel).
AVRO Twin-engine turboprop: military transport, and freighter of British origin having a capacity of 48 paratroopers or 6 tonnes freight and max cruise speed of 452 km/hr.
MI-17 V5: The Mi-17 V5 is a potent helicopter platform, equipped with modern avionics and glass cockpit instrumentation. They are equipped with state-of-art navigational equipment, avionics, weather radar and are NVG-compatible.
MI-26 Twin engine turboshaft: A military heavy-lift helicopter of Russian origin with a carrying capacity of 70 combat-equipped troops or 20,000 kg payload. It has a max speed of 295 km/hr.
MI-25/MI-35 Twin engine turboshaft: Assault and anti-armour helicopter capable of carrying 8 men assault squad with four-barrel 12.7 mm rotary gun in nose barbette and up to 1500 Kg of external ordnance including Scorpion anti-tank missiles. It has a max cruise speed of 310 km/hr.
Dornier Twin-engine turboprop: Logistic air support staff transport aircraft of German origin capable of carrying 19 passengers or 2057 kg freight. It has a max speed of 428 km/hr.
AN-32 Twin-engine turboprop: Medium tactical transport aircraft of Russian origin with a crew of five and capacity to carry 39 paratroopers or max load of 6.7 tonnes. It has a max cruise speed of 530 km/hr.
IL-76: A four-engine heavy duty/long haul military transport aircraft of Russian origin with a max speed of 850 km/hr. It has a twin 23 mm cannon in tail turret and the capacity to carry 225 paratroopers or 40 tonnes freight, wheeled or tracked armored vehicles.
C-17 Globemaster III: The aircraft is capable of carrying a payload of 40-70 tons up to a distance of 4200-9000 km in a single hop.
C-130J Super Hercules: The aircraft is capable of performing paradrop, heavy drop, casualty evacuation and can also operate from short and semi-prepared surfaces. C-130J is the heaviest aircraft to land at DBO in Aug 2013.
Dassault Rafael: The latest addition to India’s aircraft arsenal, India has signed a deal for 36 Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. The first five aircraft including three single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft arrived on 29 July 2020, at the Air Force Station, Ambala. No 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”, is being raised at this base equipped with Rafale aircraft.