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 4th 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 }
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….
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.