Aircrafts of the Indian Armed Forces

Indian Armed Forces are one of the strongest armed forces in the world. The Indian Air Force is the primary force responsible for the security for Indian air space and military transportation. However, Indian Navy also operates strike aircrafts to provide air defence to naval ships. Apart from that, Navy has its own fleet of helicopters. The Indian Army and Coast Guards also operate their own fleets of aircrafts thus making thereself self-dependent for their transport needs. Following article gives information about the aircrafts used by all the branches of Indian Defence, their origin and role in services.

Indian Air Force

Indian Air Force operates more than 2400 aircrafts and it is the 4^th largest Air Force in the world. With one of the greatest fighter and transport aircrafts, IAF is regarded as the major Asian power. Following are the aircrafts of Indian Air Force:

1. Fighter/Attack Aircrafts

Aircrafts	Origin	Role
Sukhoi-30 MKI	Russia	Air Superiority Fighter
Mig-29 UPG	Russia	Air Superiority Fighter
Mirage-2000H	France	Multirole Fighter Aircraft
Mig-27	Russia	Ground Attack Aircraft
SEPECAT Jaguar	France-Britain	Ground Attack Aircraft
Mig-21	Russia	Interceptor Aircraft
HAL Tejas	India	Multirole Fighter Aircraft
Dassault Rafale	France	Multirole Fighter Aircraft

2. Transport Aircrafts

Aircrafts	Origin	Role
Antonov-32	Russia	Medium Transport Aircraft/ Bomber
Ilyushin Il-76 MD	Russia	Transport Aircraft
Ilyushin Il-78 MKI	Russia	Mid-Air Refuelling Aircraft
C-17 Globmaster III	USA	Heavylift Transport Aircraft
C-130J Super Hercules	USA	Transport Aircraft
Dornier Do-228	Germany/India	Light Utility Transport Aircraft
HS-748	Britain/India	Transport Aircraft
Embraer ECJ-135 Legacy	Brazil	VVIP Transport Aircraft
Boeing 737	USA	VVIP Transport Aircraft
Beriev A-50 Phalcon	Russia/Israel	Airborne Early Warning aircraft

3. Trainer Aircrafts

Aircrafts	Origin	Role
HAL HPT Deepak	India	Basic Flight Trainer
Pilatus PC-7	Switzerland	Basic Flight Trainer
HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.1	India	Intermediate Flight Training
HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2	India	Advanced Flight And Weapons Training
BAE Hawk	Britain/HAL	Advanced Jet trainer

4. Helicopters

Helicopters	Origin	Role
Mi-8	Russia	Medium Utility Helicopter
Mi-17	Russia	Medium Utility Helicopter
MI-26	Russia	Heavylift Transport Helicopter
HAL Cheetah	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
HAL Chetak	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
HAL Dhruv	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
AW101	Italy	VVIP Transport Helicopter
Mi-35	Russia	Attack Helicopter
HAL Rudra	India	Attack Helicopter

5. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

UAV’s	Origin	Role
IAI Searcher	Israel	Reconnaissance
IAI Heron	Israel	Reconnaissance
IAI Harpy	Israel	Combat UAV
IAI Harop	Israel	Combat UAV
DRDO Lakshya	India	Pilotless Training Aircraft

# Indian Navy

Naval Aviation Arm is the responsible body for flying in Indian Navy. More than 2500 Personnel are the part of Naval Aviation Arm who maintains the fleet of 220 aircrafts. Naval Aviation is capable of providing an aircraft carrier based strike capability, fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. Following are aircrafts of navy:

1. Fixed-wing aircraft

Aircrafts	Origin	Role
Mikoyan MiG-29K	Russia	Multirole combat aircraft
BAE Sea Harrier	United Kingdom	Fighter aircraft
BAE Hawk	United Kingdom	Trainer Aircraft
Boeing P-8 Poseidon	United States	Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Tupolev Tu-142 Bear	Russia	Bomber
Ilyushin Il-38 May	Russia	Maritime Patrol
Dornier Do 228	Germany/India	Utility Aircraft
HAL HJT-16 Kiran	India	Trainer Aircraft
HAL HPT-32 Deepak	India	Trainer Aircraft

2. Helicopters

Kamov Ka-31 Helix-B	Russia	Airborne early warning
Westland Sea King	United Kingdom	Anti-submarine warfare/ Search & Rescue, Utility Transport
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King	United States	Anti-submarine warfare/ Utility Helicopter
Kamov Ka-25 Hormone	Russia	Anti-submarine warfare
Kamov Ka-28 Helix-A	Russia	Anti-submarine warfare
HAL Chetak	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
HAL Dhruv	India	Light Utility Helicopter

# Indian Army

Army Aviation Corps is responsible for the army transportation needs. However, the Army flies only light helicopters but in the coming future, army is planning to induct attack helicopters as well. Army Aviation Corps maintain a fleet of 158 aircrafts. Following are the helicopters of army:

Helicopters	Origin	Role
HAL Cheetah	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
HAL Chetak	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
HAL Dhruv	France/India	Utility Helicopter
HAL Lancer	France/India	Light Attack Helicopter
HAL Rudra	India	Attack Helicopter

# Indian Coast Guards

The Coast Guard operates a small fleet of 38 Dornier Do-228 maritime surveillance aircraft, 9 HAL Dhruv and 18 HAL Chetak light utility helicopters.

Helicopters/Aircrafts	Origin	Role
HAL Chetak	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
HAL Dhruv	France/India	Light Utility Helicopter
Dornier Do-228	Germany/India	Light Transport Aircraft

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Mukesh kumar singh January 13, 2014 at 9:29 am: sir, i have been call up for ssb. how should i prepare within very limited time.pls suggest me sir…i m some what nervous,how will i perform there….

Dr. Ajitrao Mahamuni January 13, 2014 at 11:25 am: Dear Sir,
Is evaluation of SSB is good? A student of 12 works hard for 1 1/2 yr for UPSC. Get qualified for SSB. When he goes there they take took test of 1 1/2 min of picture perception & judges the quality of student. Is simple that way? I think its a bullshit, applying the method UK army of 1885. Do you think UPSC should made tough & if they want to select 400 then do a merit list of 800 or 1000 take SSB of all 1000 students completely & then declare result of combined UPSC & SSB.