List of aircraft of the Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force, often abbreviated as the IAF, is the world's fourth largest air force after those of the United States, Russia and China; and operates more than 1430 combat and 1700 non-combat aircraft. Here is a list of those aircraft which have served the IAF, and also those which are currently or are expected to enter service:

Current aircraft

AWACS

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Squadrons! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Ilyushin/IAI Phalcon || || multi role fighter || Mirage 2000H || 60 || 0 || 1, 7, 9 || Mirage fleet to be upgraded to Mirage 2000-5 standards. As of 2008, Thales & Dassault chosen as Upgrade OEMs and Requests For Proposal sent to them. Bid awaited.
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum || || deep penetration fighter bomber || Jaguar IS || 104 (IS) || 27(IB) || 5, 14, 16, 27, one more under trial ||rowspan="2"| 68 early aircraft to be upgraded to DARIN III standard. HAL has closed the production line for the Jaguar, now using it for AJTs. In all 178 aircraft have been received by the IAF. Over 35 aircraft have been lost in accidents. [ [http://media.bharat-rakshak.com/AeroIndia2007/Display_Stalls/DarinII/IB+Darin+II+Jaguar+02.jpg.html IB Darin II Jaguar 02 ] ] [ [http://media.bharat-rakshak.com/AeroIndia2007/Display_Stalls/DarinII/IB+Darin+II+Jaguar.jpg.html IB Darin II Jaguar ] ] [ [http://media.bharat-rakshak.com/AeroIndia2007/Display_Stalls/DarinII/Darin2_Cockpit.jpg.html Darin2_Cockpit ] ]
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maritime air support || Jaguar IM || 6 || 2 || 6
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Flogger-D/J || || utility helicopter || Dhruv || ~36-44 || 117, 132, 151 || deliveries underway, another 54 to be acquired. [http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/24/stories/2007122452991300.htm] ]
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Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III || ||rowspan="2"| transport helicopter || Mi-8 || 50 || 105,109, 110, 112,119, 121, 122F ||rowspan="2"
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Mi-17 || 93 || 107,118,127, 128, 129, 130, 152, 153
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Mil Mi-35 Hind-E || || Tactical Transport || An-32 || 94 || 12, 25'B', 33, 43, 48, 49, PTS, TTW
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Hawker Siddeley HS 748 || || Tactical Transport || Do 228-201 || 28 || 41, TTW, 6 Comm Flts (2 A/c) || built by HAL; 12 more ordered
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rowspan="2"|Ilyushin Il-76 Candid ||rowspan="2"| || trainer || Hawk 132 || 15 || || 106 ordered (66 with follow-on order of 40)
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HAL HJT-16 Kiran ||
|| 2011 ||Six ordered for Special Operations.
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Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft || || ||A 5th Generation aircraft which is under preliminary development. Project not yet formally launched. Expected to be cleared only once LCA enters service. Expected to be a Jaguar/ Mirage 2000 replacement.
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Sukhoi T-50 || RUS
IND || ||First flight of the derivative expected in 2009. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_may_test_futuristic_jets_by_2015/rssarticleshow/3339596.cms India may test futuristic jets by 2015] ] Indian Air Force plans for up to 10 Squadrons of the type.
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Attack Helicopter || || 2010 ||Earlier up to 80 helicopters were projected to complement the existing Mi-25/ 35 attack helicopters, but after considering the development of the indigenous HAL LCH, this number has been reduced to 22. RFI issued. Boeing's AH-64D Apache, Mil's Mi-28, Kamov's Ka-52 and Eurocopter's Tiger are the front-runners for this order. [ [http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3554970&c=EUR&s=TOP India to Buy 22 Attack Helos for $550M] ]
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Multi Role Transport Aircraft || || 2013 ||Multi Role Transport Aircraft. It is being developed as a 50-50 joint venture between HAL of India and Rosoboronexport of Russia. Total cost of development is 600 million US$. The envisaged requirement is for 100 aircraft for the Russian Air Force, 45 for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and a projected demand of 60 from third countries. This will make the MRTA the first aircraft to be exported from India. The IAF sees the MRTA as a replacement for its ageing fleet of 60-70 An-32 aircraft. Planned Specs: Maximum takeoff weight: 55,000 kg, Capacity: 88 to 100 paratroopers/­passengers, Payload: 18.5 tons. The deal was signed in November 2007 during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Moscow. Rosoboronexport has now identified Ilyushin Aviation Complex as the new prime nodal agency after Irkut pulled out of the project in March 2008. The development and certification of the new aircraft is expected to be completed within six years [http://picasaweb.google.com/mittal.fdk/FutureAircraftsWithIndianAirForce#5169622561296577266]
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Historical aircraft

Fighters

* MiG-23MF
* Hawker Hunter
* HAL Ajeet
* Folland Gnat built by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) under licence from Folland in the UK
* Dassault Mystère IV
* Dassault Ouragan (Toofani)
* de Havilland Vampire
* Supermarine Spitfire
* Hawker Tempest
* Hawker Hurricane

Bombers/Ground attack

* HAL HF-24 Marut (1969-1985)
* Consolidated B-24J Liberator
* English Electric Canberra
* Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter
* Bristol Blenheim
* Vultee Vengeance [ [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Vengeance-Tales.html Tales of the Vengeance] ]
* Hawker Hart (Audax India)

General purpose

* Westland Wapiti [ [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Wapiti.html The Westland Wapiti in Indian Air Force] ]
* Westland Lysander [ [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Lysander.html Westland Lysander in Indian Air Force Service] ]

Transport aircraft

* Douglas C-47 Dakota
* de Havilland Devon
* Ilyushin Il-14
* de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
* Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar
* Lockheed Super Constellation
* de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
* Tupolev Tu-124
* Antonov An-12

Helicopters

* Mil Mi-4
* Sikorsky S-55 Whirlwind
* Bell 47 G-2

Reconnaissance

* Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta
* MiG-25

Trainers

* HAL HT-2
* PZL TS-11 Iskra: 50 Iskra "bis" D Polish jet trainer aircraft were bought by India in 1975, then a further 26 in the 1990s. All Iskra aircraft were withdrawn from the IAF by December 16, 2004. [ [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/Iskras/Swansong.html Swansong of the Iskaras] ]
* North American Harvard
* de Havilland Tiger Moth
* Percival Prentice

ee also

* Indian Air Force
* Military of India
* Indian Navy
* India

References