Indian Air Force
Made by – ANKUR KUMAR
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed
Forces.
Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth
amongst the air forces of the world.
Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to
conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.
It was officially established on 8 October 1932.
On 1 April 1933, the IAF commissioned its first squadron, No.1
Squadron, with four Westland Wapiti biplanes and five Indian
pilots.
The IAF's mission is defined by the Armed Forces Act of 1947,
the Constitution of India, and the Air Force Act of 1950
Founded 26 January 1950; 72 years ago (as current service)
8 October 1932;89 years ago (as Royal Indian Air Force)
Role Aerial warfare
Size 170,576 active personneL
140,000 reserve personnel
Approx 1926+ aircraft
Part of Indian Armed Forces
Headquarters Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of
Defence, New Delhi
Motto(s) नभः स्पृशं द��म ्
"Touch the sky with Glory" (Taken from Bhagavad Gita)
Anniversaries 8 October (Air Force Day)
Commander-in-Chief President Ram Nath Kovind
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram
Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep
(VCAS) Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VM
Notable Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan
commanders Singh
Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal
Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee
Engagements
Operation Poomalai
World War II
Operation Pawan
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Operation Cactus
Congo Crisis Kargil War
Operation Vijay Pakistan Navy Atlantic
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 shootdown
Operation Cactus-Lilly 2019 Balakot airstrike
Battle of Boyra India–Pakistan border
Bangladesh Liberation War skirmishes (2019)
Operation Meghdoot
2020 China–India
skirmishes
Operation Ganga
STRUCTURE
Commands -Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal
Wings-commanded by an air commodore. It generally consists of two or three IAF squadrons
and helicopter units, along with forward base support units (FBSU).
Stations- commanded by a group captain. A station typically has one wing and one or two
squadrons assigned to it
Squadrons and units- commanding officer with the rank of wing commander. A fighter
squadron consists of 18 aircraft
Flights-commanded by a squadron leader. Each flight consists of two sections.
Sections-The smallest unit is the section, led by a flight lieutenant. Each section consists of
three aircraft.
Rank structure
Indian Navy Indian Army Indian Air Force
Commissioned ranks
Admiral of Field marshal Marshal of
the fleet the Indian Air
Force
Admiral General Air chief marshal
Vice admiral Lieutenant general Air marshal
Rear admiral Major general Air vice marshal
Commodore Brigadier Air commodore
Captain Colonel Group captain
Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander
Lieutenant commander Major Squadron leader
Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant
Sub lieutenant Lieutenant Flying officer
Junior commissioned ranks
Master chief Subedar major Master warrant officer
petty officer
1st class
Master chief Subedar Warrant officer
petty officer
2nd class
Chief Naib subedar Junior warrant officer
petty officer
Non-commissioned ranks
Petty officer Havildar Sergeant
Leading seaman Naik Corporal
Seaman 1 Lance naik Leading aircraftsman
Seaman 2 Sepoy Aircraftsman
Aircraft inventory
Multi-role fighters and strike aircraft
Su-30MKI
Rafale
Tejas
MiG-29
Mirage 2000
MiG-21
Airborne early warning and control system
AEW&C Embraer ERJ 145
Transport aircraft
C-130J
C-17 Globemaster III
CH-47F (I) Chinook
Il-76
An-32
HS 748
Do 228
Boeing 737
ERJ 135
Boeing 777
Helicopter
CH-47 Chinook
Dhruv
Chetak
Cheetah
Mi-8
Mi-17
Mi-26
Attack helicopter
HAL LCH
Apache AH-64°
Mi-25/35
Rudra
Training and education
Air Force Academy, Dundigul (located in Hyderabad)
Pilot Training Establishment at Allahabad
Air Force Administrative College at Coimbatore
Air Force Technical College, Bangalore at Jalahalli
Tactics and Air Combat and Defence
Establishment at Gwalior
Paratrooper's Training School at Agra
