| Indian Air Force |
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|
Emblem of the Indian Air Force |
| Founded | 26 January 1950 (1950-01-26) (as current service)
8 October 1932 (1932-10-08) (as Royal Indian Air Force) |
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| Country | India |
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| Type | Air force |
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| Role | Aerial warfare |
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| Size | 149,000 active personnel
140,000 reserve personnel
1,750 aircraft (approx) |
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| Part of | Indian Armed Forces |
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| Headquarters | Vayu Sena Bhawan, Motilal Nehru Marg, New Delhi. |
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| Mottos | Nabhaḥ Spr̥śaṁ Dīptam (ISO)
transl. "Touch the Sky with Glory" (Taken from Bhagavad Gita) |
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| Colours | |
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| March |
- Quick: Dēśa Pukārē Jaba Saba Kō
(When the Country Calls Everyone)
- Slow: Vāyu Sēnā Niśāna
(The Air Force Emblem)
|
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| Anniversaries | Air Force Day: 8 October |
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| Engagements | |
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| Website | indianairforce.nic.in |
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| Commander-in-Chief | President Droupadi Murmu |
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| Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) | Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh |
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| Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) | Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor |
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| Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) | Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti |
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Notable
commanders | |
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| Roundel | |
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| Fin flash | |
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| Flag | |
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| President's Colour | |
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| Attack | Jaguar, Eitan, Harop |
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Electronic
warfare | A-50E/I, DRDO AEW&CS |
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| Fighter | Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, Jaguar |
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| Helicopter | CH-47 Chinook, Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26 |
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| Attack helicopter | Prachand, Apache AH-64E, Mi-25/35, Rudra |
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| Reconnaissance | Searcher II, Heron |
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| Trainer | Hawk Mk 132, HJT-16 Kiran, Pilatus C-7 Mk II |
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| Transport | C-130J, C-17 Globemaster III, CH-47F (I) Chinook, Il-76, An-32, HS 748, Do 228, EADS CASA C-295, Boeing 737, ERJ 135, Boeing 777 |
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| Tanker | Il-78 MKI |
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) (ISO: Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British India which honoured India's aviation service during World War II.
Since 1950, the IAF has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus and Operation Poomalai. The IAF's mission expands beyond engagement with hostile forces, with the IAF participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The President of India holds the rank of Supreme Commander of the IAF. As of 1 January 2025, 135,000 personnel are in service with the Indian Air Force. The Chief of the Air Staff, an Air chief marshal, is a four-star officer and is responsible for the bulk of operational command of the Air Force. There is never more than one serving ACM at any given time in the IAF. The rank of Marshal of the Air Force has been conferred by the President of India on one occasion in history, to Arjan Singh. On 26 January 2002, Singh became the first and so far, only five-star rank officer of the IAF.