The
Indian Air Force (
IAF;
Devanāgarī: भारतीय वायु सेना,
Bhartiya Vāyu Senā) is the
air arm of the
Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian
airspace and to conduct
aerial warfare during a conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the
Indian Empireand the prefix
Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during
World War II. After India achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the
Royal Indian Air Force served the
Union of India, with the prefix being dropped when India became a republic in 1950.
The
President of India serves as the
Commander-in-Chief of the IAF. The
Chief of Air Staff, an Air Chief Marshal (ACM), is a
four star commander and commands the Air Force. There is never more than one serving ACM at any given time in the IAF. One officer
Arjan Singh , DFC has been conferred the rank of Marshal of the Air Force, a 5-star rank and the officer serves as the ceremonial chief.
| Indian Air Force |
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Ensign of the Indian Air Force |
| Active | 8 October 1932 – present |
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| Country | India |
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| Size | 170,000 active personnel
1,600+ aircraft[1] |
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| Part of | Ministry of Defence
Indian Armed Forces |
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| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
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| Motto | नभःस्पृशं दीप्तम्
Sanskrit: Nabhaḥ-Spṛśaṃ Dīptam
"Touch the Sky with Glory"[2] |
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| Colour | Navy blue, Sky blue & White
|
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| Anniversaries | Air Force Day: 8th October[3] |
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| Engagements | |
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| Website | indianairforce.nic.in |
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| Commanders |
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| Chief of the Air Staff | ACM Pradeep Vasant Naik |
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| Vice Chief | Air Marshal N. A. K. Browne |
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| Insignia |
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| Crest |  |
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| Roundel |  |
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| Fin flash |  |
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| Aircraft flown |
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| Attack | Jaguar, MiG-27, Harpy |
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Electronic
warfare | A-50E/I |
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| Fighter | Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas, Mirage 2000,MiG-29, MiG-21 |
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| Helicopter | Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26, Mi-25/35 |
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| Reconnaissance | Searcher II, Heron |
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| Trainer | HPT-32 Deepak, HJT-16 Kiran,Hawk Mk 132 |
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| Transport | Il-76, An-32, HS 748, Do 228,Boeing 737, ERJ 135, Il-78 MKI |
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Mission
Evolution of the IAF Roundel over the years:
1)1933-1942
2)1942-1945
3)1947-1950
4)1950-Present
[6]
| “ | Defence of India and every part thereof including preparation for defence and all such acts as may be conducive in times of war to its prosecution and after its termination to effective demobilisation. | ” |
Thus, the IAF has the primary objective of safeguarding Indian territory and national interests from all threats in conjunction with the other branches of the armed forces by defending Indian airspace. The IAF provides close air support to the
Indian Army troops in the battlefield and also provides strategic and tactical airlift capabilities. The IAF also operates the
Integrated Space Cell together with the other two branches of the
Indian Armed Forces, the civilian
Department of Space and the
Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) to utilize more effectively the country's space-based assets for military purposes and to look into threats to these assets.
[8][9]The Indian Air Force along with the other branches of the Indian Armed Forces provide assistance in disaster relief such as during natural calamities by undertaking evacuation or search-and-rescue (SAR) operations and air dropping relief supplies in affected areas.
[10] The IAF provided extensive assistance to relief operations during natural calamities such as the Gujarat cyclone in 1998 and the Tsunami in 2004.
[10] The IAF also provides assistance to other countries during relief activities such as Operation Rainbow in Sri Lanka
History
The Indian Air Force was established in
British India as an auxiliary air force
[11] of the
Royal Air Force with the enactment of the Indian Air Force Act 1932 on 8 October that year
[12][13] and adopted the Royal Air Force uniforms , badges, brevets and insignia.
[14] On 1 April 1933, the IAF commissioned its first squadron,
No.1 Squadron, with four
Westland Wapiti biplanes and five Indian pilots. The Indian pilots were led by Flight Lieutenant (later Air Vice Marshal)
Cecil Bouchier.
[15] Until 1938, No. 1 Squadron remained the only squadron of the IAF, though two more
flights were added.
[15]
First years of independence (1947–1950)
After gaining independence from the British Empire in 1947,
British India was
partitioned into the new states of the
Union of India and the
Dominion of Pakistan. Along the lines of the geographical partition, the assets of the air force were divided between the new countries. India's air force retained the name of the Royal Indian Air Force, but three of the ten operational squadrons and facilities, located within the borders of Pakistan, were transferred to the
Royal Pakistan Air Force.
[18] The RIAF Roundel was changed to an interim 'Chakra' roundel derived from the
Ashoka Chakra.
[14]Around the same time, conflict broke out between them over the control of the
princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. With Pakistani forces moving into the state, its Maharaja decided to accede to India in order to receive military help.
[19] The day after
instrument of accession was signed, the RIAF was called upon to transport troops into the war-zone.
[19] This led to the eruption of full scale war between India and Pakistan, though there was no formal declaration of war.
[20] During the war, the RIAF did not engage the Pakistan Air Force in air-to-air combat; however, it did provide effective transport and close air support to the Indian troops.
[21]When India became a
republic in 1950, the prefix 'Royal' was dropped from the Indian Air Force.
[13] At the same time, the current IAF roundel was adapted.
Kargil War (1999)
On 11 May 1999, the Indian Air Force was called in to provide close air support to the Indian Army at the height of the ongoing
Kargil conflict with the use of helicopters.
[55] The IAF strike was code named
Operation Safed Sagar.
[55] The first strikes were launched on the
26 May, when the Indian Air Force struck infiltrator positions with fighter aircraft and
helicopter gunships.
[56] The initial strikes saw MiG-27s carrying out offensive sorties, with
MiG-21s and later
MiG-29s providing fighter cover.
[57] The IAF also deployed its radars and the
MiG-29 fighters in vast numbers to keep check on Pakistani military movements across the border.
[58] Srinagar Airportwas at this time closed to civilian air-traffic and dedicated to the Indian Air Force.
[56]On 27 May, the first fatalities were suffered when a
MiG-21 and a
MiG-27 jets were lost over Batalik Sector to enemy action and mechanical failure, respectively.
[59][60]The following day, a Mi-17 was lost- with the loss of all four of the crew- when it was hit by three
stingers while on an offensive sortie.
[52] These losses forced the Indian Air Force to reassess its strategy. The helicopters were immediately withdrawn from offensive roles as a measure against the man-portable missiles in possession of the infiltrators. On 30 May, the Indian Air Force called into operation the
Mirage 2000 which was deemed the best aircraft capable of optimum performance under the conditions of high-altitude seen in the zone of conflict. Mirage 2000s not only had better defence equipment compared to the MiGs, but also gave IAF the ability to carry out aerial raids at night. The MiG-29s were used extensively to provide fighter escort to the Mirage 2000.
[61] The Mirages successfully targeted enemy camps and logistic bases in Kargil and within days, their supply lines were severely disrupted.
[62] Mirage 2000s were used for strikes on Muntho Dhalo
[52] and the heavily defended
Tiger Hilland paved the way for their early recapture.
[52] At the height of the conflict, the IAF was conducting over forty sorties daily over the Kargil region.
[61] By 26 July, the Indian forces had successfully liberated Kargil from Pakistani forces.
[63]
Post Kargil incidents (1999–present)
On 10 August 1999, IAF
MiG-21s intercepted a
Pakistan Navy Breguet Atlantic which was flying over the disputed region of
Sir Creek.
The aircraft was shot down killing all 16 Pakistani Navy personnel on board.
[64]India claimed that the Atlantic was on a mission to gather information on IAF air defence,
[65] a charge emphatically rejected by Pakistan which argued that the unarmed aircraft was on a training mission.
[66]Since the late 1990s, the Indian Air Force has been modernising its fleet to counter challenges in the new century. The fleet size of the IAF has decreased during this period because of the retirement of older aircraft. Still, India maintains the fourth largest air force in the world.
Structure
Commands and structure
The Indian Air Force is divided into five operational and two functional
commands. Each Command is headed by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal. The purpose of an operational command is to conduct military operations using aircraft within its area of responsibility, whereas the responsibility of functional commands is to maintain
combat readiness. Aside from the Training Command at Bangalore, the centre for primary flight training is located at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, followed by operational training at various other schools. Advanced officer training for command positions is also conducted at the Defence Services Staff College; specialised advanced flight training schools are located at Bidar, Karnataka, and Hakimpet, Andhra Pradesh (also the location for helicopter training). Technical schools are found at a number of other locations.
[69]
Operational Commands
 Central Air Command (CAC), headquartered at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh Eastern Air Command (EAC), headquartered at Shillong, Meghalaya Southern Air Command (SAC), headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala South Western Air Command (SWAC), headquartered at Gandhinagar, Gujarat Western Air Command (WAC), headquartered at Subroto Park, New Delhi
| | Functional Commands
|
Bases
The IAF operates over sixty air bases, with more being built or planned.
[70] Western Air Command is the largest Air Command. It operates sixteen air bases from
Punjab to
Uttar Pradesh. Eastern Air Command operates fifteen Air bases in Eastern and North-eastern India. Central Air Command operates seven Air Bases in
Madhya Pradesh and surrounding states of central India. Southern Air Command, a strategically important Air command, in line with India's latest doctrine of protecting the vital shipping routes. It operates nine Air bases in
Southern India and two in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. South Western Air Command is the front line of defence against Pakistan, this important Command operates twelve air bases in
Gujarat,
Maharashtra and
Rajasthan. India also operates the
Farkhor Air Base in
Tajikistan.
[71]
Wings
A
Wing is a formation intermediate between a Command and a Squadron. It generally consists of two or three IAF Squadrons and Helicopter Units, along with Forward Base Support Units (FBSU). FBSUs do not have or host any Squadrons or Helicopter units but act as transit airbases for routine operations. In times of war, they can become fully fledged air bases playing host to various Squadrons. In all, about 47 Wings and 19 FBSUs make up the IAF.
[72][73]
Squadrons
Squadrons are the field units and formations attached to static locations. Thus, a Flying Squadron is a sub-unit of an air force station which carries out the primary task of the IAF. All fighter squadrons are headed by a
Commanding Officer with the rank of Wing Commander.
[74] Some Transport squadrons and Helicopter Units are headed by a Commanding Officer with the rank of
Group Captain.
Within this formation structure, IAF has several service branches for day-to-day operations. They are:
[75]
Flying Branch
| | Technical Branch
| | Ground Branch
- Administration
- Accounts
- Education
- Medical & Dental
- Meteorological
|
Garud Commando Force
In September 2004, the IAF established its own
special operation unit called the
Garud Commando Force, consisting of approximately 1500 personnel. The unit derives its name from
Garuda, a divine bird-like creature of
Hindu Mythology, but more commonly the word for
eagle in
Sanskrit. Garud is tasked with the protection of critical installations; search and rescue during peace and hostilities and disaster relief during calamities.
[76]
Integrated Space Cell
An Integrated Space Cell, which will be jointly operated by all the three services of the Indian armed forces, the civilian Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been set up to utilize more effectively the country's space-based assets for military purposes and to look into threats to these assets.
[8][9] This command will leverage space technology including satellites. Unlike an aerospace command, where the air force controls most of its activities, the Integrated Space Cell envisages cooperation and coordination between the three services as well as civilian agencies dealing with space.
[77]India currently has 11 remote sensing satellites in orbit. Though most are not meant to be dedicated military satellites, some have a spacial resolution of 1 metre or below which can be also used for military applications. Noteworthy satellites include the
Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) which has a panchromatic camera (PAN) with a resolution of 1 metre,
[78] the
RISAT-2 which is capable of imaging in all-weather conditions and has a resolution of one metre,
[79] the
CARTOSAT-2,
CARTOSAT-2A[80] (a dedicated military satellite)
[81] and
CARTOSAT-2B[82] which carries a panchromatic camera which has a resolution of 80 centimetres (black and white only).
Display Teams
Surya Kiran (
Sanskrit for
Sun Rays) is an
aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and are successors to the
Thunderbolts.
[83] The team has a total of 13 pilots (selected from the fighter stream of the IAF) and operate 9
HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft[83]painted in a "day-glo orange" and white
colour scheme. The Surya Kiran team were conferred squadron status in 2006, and presently have the designation of 52 Squadron, Air force (
"The Sharks").
[84] Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team is based at the Indian Air Force Station at
Bidar.
[83] The HJT-16 Kiran is to be replaced by the
HAL HJT-36 Sitara. The IAF have already given an order for 12 Limited Series Production aircraft for the Surya Kiran team.
[85] Meanwhile, IAF has begun the process of converting Surya Kirans to BAE Hawks. It will take will 2–3 years for the team to completely shift to Hawks.
[85] Sarang is the Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force. The name Sarang (
Sanskrit for
Peacock) is symbolic as it is the national
bird of
India. The team was formed in October 2003 and their first public performance was at the Asian Aerospace Show,
Singapore, 2004.
[86] The team flies four
HAL Dhruvs[87] painted in red and white with a peacock figure at the each side of the fuselage. The Sarang display team is based at the Indian Air Force base at Air Force Station Sulur, Coimbatore.
Personnel
Officers of the IAF in their
uniform.
The IAF has a strength of 170,000 personnel. Its rank structure is based on that of the
Royal Air Force.
[4] The highest rank attainable in the IAF is
Marshal of the Indian Air Force, conferred by the President of India after exceptional service during wartime. MIAF Arjan Singh is the only officer to have achieved this rank. The head of the Indian Air Force is the
Chief of the Air Staff, who holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal. The current chief, Air Chief Marshal
Pradeep Vasant Naik, assumed command of the IAF on 31 May 2009, following the retirement of his predecessor.
[88] The current
Vice Chief of the Air Staff is Air Marshal N A K Browne and is second in command of the IAF.
[89]
Officers
Anyone holding Indian citizenship can apply to be an officer in the Air Force as long as they satisfy the eligibility criteria. There are four entry points to become an officer. Male applicants, who are between the ages of 16½ and 19 and have passed high school graduation, can apply at the
Intermediate level.
[90] Men and women applicants, who have graduated from college (three year course) and are between the ages of 18 and 28, can apply at the
Graduate level entry.
[91] Graduates of engineering colleges can apply at the
Engineer level if they are between the ages of 18 and 28 years. The age limit for the flying and ground duty branch is 23 years of age and for technical branch is 28 years of age.
[92] After completing a
master's degree, men and women between the ages of 18 and 28 years can apply at the
Post Graduate level. Post graduate applicants do not qualify for the flying branch. For the technical branch the age limit is 28 years and for the ground duty branch it is 25.
[93] At the time of application, all applicants must be single.
[94] The IAF selects candidates for officer training from these applicants. After completion of training, a candidate is commissioned as a
Flying Officer.
[95]Ranks of the Indian Air Force- Officer Ranks
Airmen
The duty of an airman in the Indian Air Force is to make sure that all the air and ground operations run smoothly. From operating Air Defence systems to fitting missiles, they are involved in all activities of an air base and give support to various technical and non-technical jobs.
[96] The recruitment of personnel below officer rank is conducted through All India Selection Tests and Recruitment Rallies. All India Selection Tests are conducted among 14 Airmen Selection Centres (ASCs) located all over India. These centres are under the direct functional control of Central Airmen Selection Board (CASB), with administrative control and support by respective commands. The role of CASB is to carry out selection and enrolment of airmen from the Airmen Selection Centres for their respective commands.
[96] Candidates initially take a written test at the time of application. Those passing the written test undergo a physical fitness test, an interview conducted in English, and medical examination. Candidates for training are selected from individuals passing the battery of tests, on the basis of their performance. Upon completion of training, an individual becomes an Airman.
[96] Some MWOs and WOs are granted honorary commission in the last year of their service as an honorary Flying Officer or
Flight Lieutenant before retiring from the service.
[96]
Non Combatants Enrolled and civilians
Non Combatants Enrolled (NCs(E)) were established in British India as personal assistants to the officer class, and are equivalent to the
orderly or
sahayak of the Indian Army.
[97]Almost all the commands have some percentage of civilian strength which are central government employees. These are regular ranks which are prevalent in ministries. They are usually not posted outside their stations and are employed in administrative and non-technical work.
[98][99]
Training and education
The Sudan Block of the
National Defence Academy (NDA). NDA serves as the joint services academy for the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
The Indian Armed Forces has set up numerous military academies across India for training its personnel. Military schools,
Sainik Schools, and the Rashtriya Indian Military College were founded to broaden the recruitment base of the Defence Forces. The three branches of the Indian Armed Forces jointly operate several institutions such as the
National Defence Academy (NDA),
Defence Services Staff College (DSSC),
National Defence College (NDC) and the College of Defence Management (CDM) for training its officers. The
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) at
Pune is responsible for providing the entire pool of medical staff to the Armed Forces by giving them in service training.
Besides these Tri-service institutions, the Indian Air Force has a
Training Command and several training establishments. While technical and other support staff are trained at various Ground Training Schools, the pilots are trained at the
Air Force Academy located at Dundigul. The Pilot Training Establishment at
Allahabad, the Air Force Administrative College at
Coimbatore, the School of Aviation Medicine at
Bangalore, the Air Force Technical Training College at
Jalahalli and the Paratrooper’s Training School at
Agra are some of the other training establishments of the IAF.
Aircraft inventory
The Indian Air Force has aircraft and equipment of Russian (erstwhile Soviet Union), British, French, Israeli, U.S. and Indian origins with Russian aircraft dominating its inventory. HAL produces some of the Russian and British aircraft in India under licence. The exact number of aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force cannot be determined with precision from open sources. Various reliable sources provide notably divergent estimates for a variety of high-visibility aircraft.
[100]
Fighter and multi-role combat aircraft
The fighter aircraft in the IAF inventory are the primary means to achieve and maintain
air supremacy over the battle field. These aircraft are designed for
air-to-air combat in order to achieve their goals.
The
Mikoyan MiG-29 known as
Baaz (
Hindi for Hawk) is the IAF's dedicated air superiority fighter and forms the second line of defence for the IAF after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. The IAF operates 69 MiG-29s, all of which are currently being upgraded to the MiG-29UPG standard.
[103]The
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 serves as an
Interceptor aircraft in the IAF. The IAF currently operates about 200 MiG-21s, 121 of which have been upgraded to MiG-21 Bison standard.
[105] While the MiG-21 Bison is likely to be in service till 2017, the remaining aircraft are expected to be phased out by 2013. The MiG-21s are planned to be replaced by the indigenously built
HAL Tejas.
[106][107]
Strike, attack and close support aircraft
These are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground. They are often deployed as close air support for, and in proximity to, their own ground forces, requiring precision strikes from these aircraft.
The
SEPECAT Jaguar known as
Shamsher and the
Mikoyan MiG-27 known as
Bahadur (Hindi for Valiant) serve as the IAF's primary ground attack force.
[108] The IAF currently operates 139 Jaguars
[109] and over 100 MiG-27s.
[110]
Airborne early warning aircraft
These aircraft are designed to detect and distinguish hostile aircraft. The system can be used to direct fighters and strike aircraft to their targets and warn them of hostile enemy aircraft in the area.
The IAF currently operates the
Beriev A-50EI Mainstay
AEW&C. A total of 3 such systems are currently in service, with possible orders for 2 more.
[111]
Tanker aircraft
These aircraft are used for aerial refueling which allows IAF aircraft to remain airborne for longer periods, hence enhancing their effective range. Aerial refueling also allows aircraft to take-off with greater payload (by carrying less fuel during take-off). The IAF currently operates 6
Ilyushin Il-78MKIs for aerial refueling roles.
[112][113] A Request for Proposal for 6 additional tanker aircraft was issued in September 2010. The EADS A330 MMRT and the Il-78 are still in the competition after Boeing withdrew the KC-767.
[114]
Transport aircraft
IAF
Il-76 landing at Leh airfield.
Transport aircraft are typically used to deliver troops, weapons, supplies and other military equipment to the IAF field of operations. The IAF currently operate different types of transport aircraft for different roles.
The
Antonov An-32 known as
Sutlej (name of an
Indian river) serves as medium transport aircraft in the IAF. The aircraft is also used in bombing roles and para-dropping operations.
[119] The IAF currently operates 105 An-32s, all of which are being upgraded.
[119]
Training aircraft
Training aircraft are used to develop piloting and nagivational skills in pilots and air crew.
The
HAL HPT-32 Deepak is IAF's basic flight training aircraft for cadets.
[126] The HPT-32 was grounded in July 2009 following a crash that killed two senior flight instructors,
[127] but was revived in May 2010
[127] and is to be fitted with a parachute recovery system (PRS) to enhance survivability during an emergency in the air and to bring the trainer down safely.
[127] The HPT-32 is to be phased out soon.
[127]The
BAE Hawk Mk 132 serves as an advanced jet trainer in the IAF and is progressively replacing the Kiran Mk.II. The IAF has begun the process of converting the
Surya Kiran display team to Hawks.
[85] A total of 106 BAE Hawk trainers have been ordered by the IAF of which 39 have entered service as of July 2010.
[132]
Helicopters
An important objective of the IAF is to support ground troops by providing air cover and by transporting men and essential commodities across the battlefield. For this purpose the Air Force maintains a fleet of helicopters.
The
HAL Dhruv serves primarily as a light utility helicopter in the IAF. In addition to transport and utility roles, Dhruvs are also used as attack helicopters.
[133] 4 Dhruvs are also operated by the Indian Air Force
Sarang Helicopter Display Team.
[87]The
HAL Chetak is a light utility helicopter and is used primarily for training, rescue and light transport roles in the IAF.
[134] The HAL Chetak is scheduled to be replaced by HAL's Advanced Light Helicopter.
[134]The
HAL Cheetah is a light utility helicopter used for high altitude operations. It is used for both transport and search-and-rescue missions in the IAF.
[135]The
Mil Mi-8 and the
Mil Mi-17 are operated by the IAF for medium utility roles. The Mi-8 is being progressively replaced by the Mi-17.
[136][137] The IAF has ordered 80 Mi-17V-5s to replace and augment its existing fleet of Mi-8s and Mi-17s, with an order for 59 additional helicopters to follow soon.
[138]The
Mil Mi-26 serves as a heavy lift helicopter in the IAF. It can also be used to transport troops or as a flying ambulance. The IAF currently operates 4 Mi-26s.
[139]The
Mil Mi-35 serves primarily as an attack helicopter in the IAF. The Mil Mi-35 can also act as a low-capacity troop transport. The IAF currently operates 2 squadrons (No.104 Firebirds and No.125 Gladiators) of Mi-25/35s.
[140]
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The primary role of
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is to provide aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. UAVs can also be used as unmanned combat aircraft or pilotless target aircraft.
The IAF currently uses the
IAI Searcher II[141] and
IAI Heron[142] for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes. The
IAI Harpy serves as an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) which is designed to attack radar systems.
[143] The IAF also operates the
DRDO Lakshya which serves as realistic towed aerial sub-targets for live fire training.
[144]
Land-based air defence
Surface-to-air missile systems
Ballistic missiles
The IAF currently operates the Prithvi-II short-range
ballistic missile (SRBM). The Prithvi-II is an IAF-specific variant of the
Prithvi ballistic missile.
[148]
Anti-ballistic missile systems
The
S-300 SAM
[149] serves as an Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile (ATBM) system in the IAF. The S-300 is also able to detect, track, and destroy incoming cruise missiles and low-flying aircraft.
[150]
Future
The number of aircraft in the IAF has been decreasing from the late 1990s due to retirement of older aircraft and several crashes. To deal with the depletion of force levels, the IAF has started to modernise its fleet. This includes both upgradation of existing aircraft, equipment and infrastructure as well as induction of new aircraft and equipment, both indigenous and imported. As new aircraft enter service and numbers recover, the IAF plans to have a fleet of 42 squadrons.
Upgrades
The air launched version of Brahmos.
Under procurement
Under development
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