List of active Indian military aircraft

Current aircraft of the Indian Armed Forces From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Indian Armed Forces consists of Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.[1] These three arms and the Indian Coast Guard operate a combination of combat, reconnaissance, tanker, and transport aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.[2]

Indian military aircraft
Various Indian military aircraft; Left to right:
1. SEPECAT Jaguar
2. Mikoyan MiG-29UPG
3. Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk
4. HAL Chetak
5. Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
6. Ilyushin Il-78MKI with Dassault Mirage 2000s

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI, assembled in India, forms the major inventory of the Indian combat aircraft.[3] HAL Tejas, the indigenous fourth generation fighter aircraft, became part of the air force in 2015.[4] Dassault Rafale is the latest entry into the air force, having been inducted in July 2020.[5] Other combat aircraft include the Russian Mikoyan MiG-29, French Dassault Mirage, and British SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft.[2] The armed forces operate a combination of various transport aircraft including tactical and strategic airlifters. Majority of this fleet is composed of the legacy Antonov An-32, Dornier 228, and Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft.[2] In the 2010s, the air force inducted large American air-lifters such as Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130J into the fleet.[6][7] In 2023, it started inducting Airbus C-295 transport aircraft to replace the older aircraft in its fleet.[8]

The Indian helicopter fleet consists of the French Aérospatiale Alouette III and SA 315B Lama, which were license built in India.[9] The Russian made Mil Mi-17 and Mi-24 forms the major complement of the helicopter fleet.[2] Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has designed and built various helicopters locally for the usage of armed forces such as the HAL Dhruv, Prachand, and Rudra.[10] Since the late 2020s, India has inducted American made Boeing AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook into the fleet.[11] The Indian fleet also consists of various other reconnaissance and trainer aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles which include both local and imported planes.[2]

Air Force

Dassault Rafale
HAL Tejas
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Dassault Mirage 2000I
Netra AEW&C on Embraer ERJ 145
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
Airbus C-295
Boeing AH-64 Apache
HAL Prachand
HAL LUH
HAL Kiran
Further information: Indian Air Force and Future of the Indian Air Force
See also: List of active Indian Air Force aircraft squadrons

The Indian Air Force was established in 1932.[12] The air force operates about 90 air squadrons including 29 equipped with fighter aircraft.[13][14] The air force maintains a fleet of combat, patrol, and Military transport aircraft, various helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles across more than 60 air bases in the country.[15][16]

More information Aircraft, Origin ...
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat
Dassault Mirage 2000 France Multirole[17] Mirage 2000H/I 36[18][19] All aircraft being upgraded to 2000I variant[20][21]
Dassault Rafale Rafale EH 28[18] Single-seat version,[22] 114 planned[23][24]
Rafale DH 8[18] Two-seat version[25]
HAL Tejas India Tejas Mk 1 30[26][27]
Tejas Mk 1A – 141 on order[28][29]
Mikoyan MiG-29 Soviet Union MiG-29B 40[30][31]
MiG-29UPG 12[30] Upgraded version of MiG-29B[32]
MiG-29UB 7[30] Two-seat version[33]
Sukhoi Su-30MKI Russia / India[a] Su-30MKI 258[34] 12 on order,[35] 84 to be upgraded[36]
SEPECAT Jaguar United Kingdom / India[a] Attack Jaguar-IM 8[18] Single-seat maritime strike version[37][38]
Jaguar-IS 78[18] Single-seat ground attack version[38]
Fighter trainers
Dassault Mirage 2000 France Conversion trainer Mirage 2000TH/TI 10[18] All aircraft being upgraded to 2000TI variant[20][21][39]
HAL Tejas India Lead-in fighter trainer / conversion trainer Tejas Mk 1 Trainer 6[26] 10 on order[26][40]
Tejas Mk 1A Trainer – 29 on order[29]
SEPECAT Jaguar United Kingdom / India[a] Conversion trainer Jaguar-IB 26[18][41] Two-seat training version[37][38]
AEW&C
Beriev A-50 Soviet Union AEW&C A-50EI 3[42]
Embraer EMB-145-I Brazil / India[b] Netra Mk1/Mk1A[43] 3[44] 6 planned[45]
Airbus A321 Europe / India[b] Netra Mk2 – 6 ex-Air India aircraft, to be modified[46]
Reconnaissance
Bombardier Global 5000 Canada / Israel ELINT Global 5000 2[44] Operated by Aviation Research Centre of R&AW[47][48]
Boeing 707 United States Reconnaissance 707-337C 1[18]
Boeing 737 737-700 2[44]
Gulfstream III III SRA[49] 3[44]
Gulfstream G100 Israel 1125 Astra 2[44]
Tanker
Airbus A330 MRTT France Tanker/transport A330 MRTT – One to be wet leased from French Air Force,[50] 6 planned[51]
Boeing KC-135 United States Tanker KC-135R 1[52] Wet leased from Metrea[53]
Ilyushin Il-78 Soviet Union Il-78MKI 6[44]
Transport
Airbus A321 Europe Transport A321-200 4[44]
Boeing 777 United States 777-300ER 2[18] Used as Air India One[54]
Embraer Legacy 600 Brazil VIP transport Legacy 6000 4[18][55]
Airbus C-295 Europe / India[c] Tactical airlifter C-295W 16[44][56] 40 on order[57]
Antonov An-32 Soviet Union An-32RE 55[18][58]
An-32 47[18]
Dornier 228 Germany / India[a] 228-201 62[44] 6 on order[59][60]
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 United Kingdom HS 748 56[34]
Lockheed Martin C-130J United States C-130J-30[61] 12[44]
Boeing C-17 Strategic airlifter C-17A 11[44]
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet Union Il-76MD 17[44]
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette III France / India[a] Utility Chetak 79[44]
Cheetal 18[62]
Aérospatiale SA 315B Cheetah 18[44]
HAL Dhruv India Dhruv Mk I/III 95[44]
HAL Light Utility Helicopter LUH – 6 on order[63]
Boeing CH-47 United States Transport CH-47F 15[44]
Mil Mi-17 Russia Mi-17V-5 222[44]
Boeing AH-64 United States Attack AH-64E 22[44]
HAL Prachand India Prachand 10[44] 66 on order[64]
HAL Rudra India Rudra 16[18]
Mil Mi-24 Russia Mi-25/35P 15[44]
Trainer
BAE Hawk United Kingdom / India[a] Advanced trainer Hawk 132 102[34]
HAL Kiran India Intermediate trainer HJT-16 77[34]
HAL HTT-40 Basic trainer HTT-40 – 70 on order[65]
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland PC-7 Mk II 74[44]
Pipistrel Virus Slovenia Ab-initio trainer Garud 72[66]
UAV
IAI Heron Israel Surveillance Heron Mk II[67] 9[18] 2 on order[68]
IAI Searcher Searcher Mk II Few[18]
MQ-9 Reaper United States Combat / Surveillance SkyGuardian – 8 on order[69]
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Army Aviation Corps

HAL Dhruv
HAL Rudra
HAL Prachand
IAI Heron
Further information: Army Aviation Corps (India)

The Army Aviation Corps was formed on 1 November 1986.[70] It operates a series of helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.[71]

More information Aircraft, Origin ...
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette III France / India[a] Utility Chetak 60[72] To be phased out by 2033.[73][74][75]
Aérospatiale SA 315B Cheetah 115[76]
HAL Dhruv India Dhruv Mk I/II/III 78[72] 25 on order[77]
HAL Light Utility Helicopter LUH – 6 on order;[63] 110 planned[78]
Boeing AH-64 United States Attack AH-64E 6[79][80]
HAL Prachand India Prachand 5[44] 90 on order;[64] 95 planned[78]
HAL Rudra Rudra 74[76]
UAV
Asteria AT India Surveillance AT-15 Unknown[81]
DRDO Nishant Nishant 13[72][82]
IAI Heron Israel Heron Mk II 4[72]
IAI Searcher Searcher Mk I/II 12[72]
IFT Switch India Switch 1.0 200[83] More on order[84]
Johnnette JF JF-2 Unknown[85]
Newspace Beluga/Nimbus Swarm Beluga/Nimbus 100[86][87]
Endure Sabal Cargo Sabal 20 Unknown[88]
Raphe mPhibr MR MR-20 48[82]
Gati Grenade launcher Gati – 20 on order[89]
MQ-9 Reaper United States Combat / Surveillance SkyGuardian – 8 on order[69]
Elbit Hermes 900 Israel / India[d] Surveillance Drishti-10 1[90] 1 on order[90]
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Naval Air Arm

MiG-29K operates from aircraft carriers
Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft armed with the AGM-84 Harpoon
Kamov Ka-31 naval helicopter
Sea King Mk 42B of the Indian Navy launches a NASM-SR
Further information: Indian Naval Air Arm and List of Indian naval aircraft

The air arm of the Indian Navy was established in 1948. The navy operates 26 air squadrons stationed across eight naval air stations that operate under the flag officers of the various naval commands.[91][92] The air arm maintains a fleet of combat and maritime patrol aircraft, various helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.[93]

More information Aircraft, Origin ...
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat
Dassault Rafale France Multirole Rafale M – 26 (22 single-seat and four twin-seat) on order[94]
Mikoyan MiG-29K Russia MiG-29K 34[95][96]
MiG-29KUB 6[95] Two seater[97]
Patrol / Utility
Boeing P-8 United States ASW / Patrol P-8I 12[98][44] 6 planned[99]
Britten-Norman BN-2 United Kingdom Patrol / Utility BN-2B/2T[100] 4[44]
Dornier 228 Germany / India[a] Patrol / Surveillance 228-201 31[44] Includes 4 upgraded, rest being upgraded.[101] 8 more on order[102]
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette III France / India[a] Utility Chetak 42[44]
HAL Dhruv India Dhruv Mk I/III 24[44]
Kamov Ka-27 Russia ASW Ka-28 14[44]
Westland Sea King United Kingdom WS-61 Mk 42B[30] 25[44]
Kamov Ka-31 Russia AEW Ka-31 14[44]
Sikorsky SH-60 United States Combat / Utility MH-60R[103] 20[104] 4 on order[105]
Trainer
BAE Hawk United Kingdom / India[a] Jet trainer Hawk 132 17[44]
HAL Kiran India HJT-16 18[44]
Pipistrel Virus Slovenia Ab-initio trainer Garud 12[66]
UAV
Elbit Hermes 900 Israel / India[d] Surveillance Drishti-10 1[106][107][108] 10 planned[109]
IAI Heron Israel Heron Mk I 10[30][110]
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper United States Combat / Surveillance SeaGuardian 2[111] 15 on order[69]
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Coast Guard

Further information: Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard is a maritime armed force, which was formed in 1978. It is involved in the protection of the maritime and offshore assets, and protecting the oceanic boundaries.[112]: 1  The coast guard operates various ships and aircraft including fixed wing reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters.[18][112]: 5 

Dornier 228 of the Indian Coast Guard
More information Aircraft, Origin ...
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Patrol
Dornier 228 Germany / India[a] Patrol / Reconnaissance 228-101/201[113] 41[18][114] 2 upgraded in 2024,[115] 2 inducted in 2026;[114] 8 on order[116]
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette III France / India[a] Utility Chetak 19[18]
HAL Dhruv India Dhruv Mk I 4[117]
Dhruv Mk III 19[118][119][120] 11 on order[121][122]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    License produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
  2. [b]
    To be fitted with AEW&CS by DRDO
  3. [c]
    To be manufactured by Tata Advanced Systems
  4. [d]
    Manufactured by Adani Defence in partnership with Elbit Systems

References

External links

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