List of active Indian Air Force aircraft squadrons

List of active flight squadrons of Indian Air Force From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an organized list of all of the active aircraft squadrons that currently exist in the Indian Air Force. Squadrons might have changed names and designations many times over the years, so they are listed by their current designation. Expeditionary and provisional units are not listed.

The Indian Air Force’s squadron strength has evolved over time, shaped by regional conflicts, aircraft retirements, and procurement delays. A comprehensive historical analysis of this trajectory — including the origin and implications of the “42 squadron” benchmark — has been documented.[1]

Combat

More information Squadron Name, Insignia ...
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 1 Squadron Tigers Central Air Command 1 April 1933 Maharajpur AFS,
Madhya Pradesh		 Mirage 2000 [2]
No. 2 Squadron Winged Arrows Eastern Air Command 1 April 1941 Tezpur AFS,
Assam		 Su-30MKI [3]
No. 4 Squadron Oorials South Western Air Command 1 February 1942 Uttarlai AFS,
Rajasthan		 Su-30MKI [4]
No. 5 Squadron Tuskers Western Air Command 2 November 1948 Ambala AFS,
Haryana		 Jaguar [5]
No. 6 Squadron Dragons South Western Air Command 1 December 1942 Jamnagar AFS,
Gujarat		 Jaguar [6]
No. 7 Squadron Battle Axes Central Air Command 1 December 1942 Maharajpur AFS,
Madhya Pradesh		 Mirage 2000 [7]
No. 8 Squadron Eight Pursoots Central Air Command 1 December 1942 Bareilly AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Su-30MKI [8]
No. 9 Squadron Wolfpack Central Air Command 4 January 1944 Maharajpur AFS,
Madhya Pradesh		 Mirage 2000 [9]
No. 14 Squadron Bulls Western Air Command 15 August 1951 Ambala AFS,
Haryana		 Jaguar [10]
No. 15 Squadron Flying Lancers Western Air Command 20 August 1951 Sirsa AFS,
Haryana		 Su-30MKI [11]
No. 16 Squadron Black Cobras Central Air Command 1950 Gorakhpur AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Jaguar [12]
No. 17 Squadron Goldern Arrows Western Air Command 1 October 1951 Ambala AFS,
Haryana		 Rafale [13]
No. 18 Squadron Flying Bullets South Western Air Command 15 April 1965 Naliya AFS,

Gujarat

 Tejas [14][15]
No. 20 Squadron Lightnings South Western Air Command 1 June 1956 Lohegaon AFS,
Maharashtra		 Su-30MKI [16]
No. 24 Squadron Hawks Central Air Command 19 February 1962 Bareilly AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Su-30MKI [17]
No. 27 Squadron Flaming Arrows Central Air Command 15 February 1957 Gorakhpur AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Jaguar [18]
No. 28 Squadron First Supersonics Western Air Command 23 March 1963 Adampur AFS,
Punjab		 MiG-29 [19]
No. 30 Squadron Rhinos South Western Air Command 1 November 1969 Lohegaon AFS,
Maharashtra		 Su-30MKI [20]
No. 31 Squadron Lions South Western Air Command 1 September 1963 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan		 Su-30MKI [21]
No. 45 Squadron Flying Daggers Southern Air Command 20 November 1959 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu		 Tejas [22]
No. 47 Squadron Black Archers Western Air Command 18 December 1959 Adampur AFS,
Punjab		 MiG-29 [23]
No. 101 Squadron Falcons Eastern Air Command 1 May 1949 Hasimara AFS,
West Bengal		 Rafale [24]
No. 102 Squadron Trisonics Eastern Air Command 25 August 1981 Chabua AFS,
Assam		 Su-30MKI [25]
No. 106 Squadron Lynxes Eastern Air Command 11 December 1959 Tezpur AFS,
Assam		 Su-30MKI [26]
No. 220 Squadron Desert Tigers Western Air Command 23 December 1957 Halwara AFS,
Punjab		 Su-30MKI [27]
No. 221 Squadron Valiants Western Air Command 14 February 1963 Halwara AFS,
Punjab		 Su-30MKI [28]
No. 222 Squadron Tigersharks Southern Air Command 15 September 1969 Thanjavur AFS,
Tamil Nadu		 Su-30MKI [29]
No. 223 Squadron Tridents Western Air Command 10 May 1982 Srinagar AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir		 MiG-29 [30]
No. 224 Squadron Warlords South Western Air Command 4 October 1983 Jamnagar AFS,
Gujarat		 Jaguar [31]
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Transport

More information Squadron Name, Insignia ...
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 11 Squadron Charging Rhinos South Western Air Command 15 November 1951 Makarpura AFS,
Gujarat		 Airbus C-295 [32]
No. 12 Squadron Yaks Central Air Command 1 December 1945 Agra AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 An-32 [33]
N/A Flying Squadron Central Air Command Agra AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Airbus C-295 [34]
No. 19 Squadron Southern Air Command 24 May 1960 Port Blair AFS,
Andaman and Nicobar		 Do-228 [35]
No. 25 Squadron Himalayan Eagles South Western Air Command 1 March 1963 Makarpura AFS,
Gujarat		 An-32 [36]
No. 33 Squadron Himalayan Geese Southern Air Command 9 January 1963 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu		 An-32 [37]
No. 41 Squadron Otters Western Air Command 1 March 1958 Palam AFS,
Delhi		 HS 748
Do-228		 [38]
No. 43 Squadron Ibex Eastern Air Command 20 January 1958 Jorhat AFS,
Assam		 An-32 [39]
No. 44 Squadron Mighty Jets Western Air Command 31 March 1961 Chandigarh AFS,
Chandigarh		 Il-76 [40]
No. 48 Squadron Camels Western Air Command 15 November 1959 Chandigarh AFS,
Chandigarh		 An-32 [41]
No. 49 Squadron Paraspears Eastern Air Command 2 February 1960 Jorhat AFS,
Assam		 An-32 [42]
No. 59 Squadron Hornbills Eastern Air Command 14 February 1960 Guwahati AFS,
Assam		 Do-228 [43]
No. 77 Squadron Veiled Vipers Western Air Command 5 February 2011 Hindon AFS,
Delhi		 C-130J [44]
No. 81 Squadron Sky Lords Western Air Command 1 September 2013 Hindon AFS,
Delhi		 C-17 [45]
No. 87 Squadron Raiding Raptors Eastern Air Command 6 May 2016 Panagarh AFS,
West Bengal		 C-130J [46]
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Helicopter

More information Squadron Name, Insignia ...
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 125 Helicopter Squadron Gladiators Western Air Command 31 December 1983 Pathankot AFS,
Punjab		 AH-64 [47]
No. 137 Helcopter Squadron Vulcans Western Air Command 21 October 2019 Pathankot AFS,
Punjab		 AH-64
No. 104 Helicopter Squadron Firebirds South Western Air Command 25 August 1992 Suratgarh AFS,
Rajasthan		 Mi-35 [48]
No. 105 Helicopter Unit Daring Eagles Central Air Command 23 November 1959 Gorakhpur AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Mi-17 [49]
No. 107 Helicopter Unit Desert Hawks South Western Air Command 1 January 1960 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan		 Mi-17 [50]
No. 109 Helicopter Unit Knights Southern Air Command 26 August 1961 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu		 Mi-17 [51]
No. 110 Helicopter Unit Vanguards Eastern Air Command 10 August 1963 Kumbhigram AFS,
Assam		 Mi-17 [52]
No. 111 Helicopter Unit Snow Tigers Central Air Command 1 August 1963 Bareilly AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Dhruv [53]
No. 112 Helicopter Unit Thoroughbreds Training Command 1 August 1963 Yelahanka AFS,
Karnataka		 Mi-17 [54]
No. 114 Helicopter Unit Siachen Pioneers Western Air Command 1 April 1964 Leh AFS,
Ladakh		 Cheetah [55]
No. 115 Helicopter Unit Hovering Angels Eastern Air Command 1 April 1967 Tezpur AFS,
Assam		 Dhruv [56]
No. 116 Helicopter Unit Tankbusters South Western Air Command 1 January 1970 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan		 HAL Rudra [57]
No. 117 Helicopter Unit Himalayan Dragons Central Air Command 1 February 1971 Saraswa AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Dhruv [58]
No. 118 Helicopter Unit Challengers Eastern Air Command 22 November 1971 Guwahati AFS,
Assam		 Mi-17 [59]
No. 119 Helicopter Unit Stallions South Western Air Command 3 March 1972 Jamnagar AFS,
Gujarat		 Mi-17 [60]
No. 127 Helicopter Unit First Ranas Eastern Air Command 10 January 1985 Mohanbari AFS,
Assam		 Mi-17 [61]
No. 128 Helicopter Unit Siachen Tigers Eastern Air Command 30 December 1985 Mohanbari AFS,
Assam		 Mi-17 [62]
No. 129 Helicopter Unit Nubra Warriors Central Air Command 1 July 1987 Hindon AFS,
Delhi		 Mi-17 [63]
No. 130 Helicopter Unit Condors Western Air Command 15 February 1988 Leh AFS,
Ladakh		 Mi-17 [64]
No. 143 Helicopter Unit Dhanush South Western Air Command 1 June 2022 Jodhpur AFS,
Rajasthan		 Prachand [65]
No. 152 Helicopter Unit Mighty Armours Central Air Command 14 September 1988 Saraswa AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Mi-17 [66]
No. 153 Helicopter Unit Daring Dragons Western Air Command 1 November 1988 Udhampur AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir		 Mi-17 [67]
No. 154 Helicopter Unit Snow Leopards Western Air Command 8 March 2012 Srinagar AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir		 Mi-17 [68]
No. 155 Helicopter Unit Kirpans South Western Air Command 14 January 2011 Suratgarh AFS,
Rajasthan		 Mi-17 [69]
No. 156 Helicopter Unit Armoured Kestrals Eastern Air Command 23 January 2012 Bagdogra AFS,
West Bengal		 Mi-17 [70]
No. 157 Helicopter Unit Tarkshya Eastern Air Command 9 April 2012 Barrackpore AFS,
West Bengal		 Mi-17 [71]
No. 158 Helicopter Unit Silver Falcions South Western Air Command 10 December 2012 Phalodi AFS,
Rajasthan		 Mi-17 [72]
No. 159 Helicopter Unit Rudraksh South Western Air Command 11 February 2013 Nagpur AFS,
Maharashtra		 Mi-17 [73]
No. 121 Helicopter Flight Sea Eagles South Western Air Command 7 January 1973 Mumbai,
Maharashtra		 Mi-17 [74]
No. 122 Helicopter Flight Flying Dolphins Southern Air Command 26 September 1981 Car Nicobar AFS,
Andaman and Nicobar		 Mi-17 [75]
No. 126 Helicopter Flight Featherweights Western Air Command 15 May 1986 Chandigarh AFS,
Chandigarh		 CH-47 [76]
No. 131 Helicopter Flight Eagle Eyes Southern Air Command 2 August 1974 Thanjavur AFS,
Tamil Nadu		 Cheetah
Chetak		 [77][78]
No. 132 Helicopter Flight Hovering Hawks Western Air Command 10 April 1986 Udhampur AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir		 Cheetah

Chetak

 [78][79]
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Aerial Refueling

More information Squadron Name, Insignia ...
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 78 Squadron Valarous Mars Central Air Command 16 December 2002 Agra AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 Il-78MKI [80]
Close

Electronic warfare/Airborne early warning(AWS)

More information Squadron Name, Insignia ...
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 50 Squadron Adwitiya Central Air Command 1 October 2008 Agra AFS,
Uttar Pradesh		 A-50 [81]
No. 181 Flight Hawks Western Air Command 5 August 1978 Hindon AFS,
Delhi		 737 SIGNIT
748-R		 [82]
No. 200 Squadron Netra Western Air Command 4 December 2014 Bathinda AFS,
Punjab		 ERJ-145SM AEW&C [83]
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Aerobatics display

More information Squadron Name, Insignia ...
Squadron Name Insignia Display Logo Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 52 Squadron Sharks / Suryakiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) Training Command 1 January 1986 Bidar AFS,
Karnataka		 Hawk Mark-132 [84]
No. 151 Helicopter Unit Sarangs Southern Air Command 1 June 1989 Sulur AFS,
Tamil Nadu		 HAL Dhruv [85]
Close

Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)

More information Squadron Name, Insignia ...
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Command Date First Activated Base Aircraft Reference
No. 3001 Squadron Western Air Command 27 November 2000 Bathinda AFS,
Punjab		 [86][78]
No. 3002 Squadron Cats Eyes South Western Air Command 3 December 2003 Jaisalmer AFS,
Rajasthan		 [87][78]
No. 3003 Squadron Trinetra Western Air Command 1 December 2003 Jammu AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir		 [88][78]
No. 3004 Squadron cheetah South Western Air Command 4 December 2014 Naliya AFS,
Gujarat		 [89]
No. 3005 Squadron Warden of the North Western Air Command 14 June 2005 Awantipur AFS,
Jammu and Kashmir		 IAI Heron Mk 2 [90][91]
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See also

References

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