India Air Force
Indian Air Force (IAF) has over 127,000 (2010) personnel and 1,500 aircraft in active service during 2011-2012 making it the fourth largest air force in the world with its squadron strength being raised to 42.
India's strike fighters consist of Russian and French aircrafts like MiG-29, Dassault Mirage 2000, Sukhoi Su-30. IAF has 146 sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters out of a total order for 272. IAF operates 68 MiG-29s and 51 Mirage 2000H.
Recently, order has been placed for 126 Dassault French Rafale multi-role fighters. In addition to these, IAf operates three Phalcon airborne early warning aircraft, and order has been placed for 20 Boeing P-8 Poseidon Airborne early arning surveillance aircraft. India also has six Ilyushin Il-78MKIs aerial refuelling aircraft and 17 Il-76 Gajraj transport aircraft, to be replaced by C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
There are also six C-130J for combined Army-IAF operations. India also has IAI Searcher and IAI Heron unmanned aerial vehicles. IAF has S-125 Pechora and 9K33 Osa surface-to-air missile systems and is also inducting Akash medium range sufrace-to-air missiles. It currently operates Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missiles. There are also S-300 SAM anti-tactical ballistic missile systems. IAF has placed orders for 48 HAL Tejas fighters also.
Latest India News
