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The Indian Air Force (IAF) 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 Empire which honoured India’s aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal.[11] After India gained independence from United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of the Dominion of India. With the transition to a republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed.
Founded
26 January 1950; 73 years ago (as current service)
8 October 1932; 90 years ago (as Royal Indian Air Force)
Country
India
Type
Air force
Role
Aerial warfare
Size
170,576 active personnel[1]
140,000 reserve personnel[2]
Approx 1926+ aircraft[3][4]
Part of
Indian Armed Forces
Headquarters
Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi
Motto(s)
नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम् (Sanskrit)
Nabhaḥ Spr̥śaṁ Dīptam (ISO)
transl. ”Touch the sky with Glory”[5][6][7] (Taken from Bhagavad Gita)[8]
Colours
March
Quick: Desh Pukare Jab Sab Ko (help·info)
(When the nation calls)
Slow: Vayu Sena Nishan (help·info)
(The Air Force Emblem)
Anniversaries
8 October (Air Force Day)[9][10]
Engagements
Notable operations
World War II
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Congo Crisis
Operation Vijay
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Operation Cactus-Lilly
Battle of Boyra
Bangladesh Liberation War
Operation Meghdoot
Operation Poomalai
Operation Pawan
Operation Cactus
Kargil War
Pakistan Navy Atlantic shootdown
2019 Balakot airstrike
India–Pakistan border skirmishes (2019)
2020–2021 China–India skirmishes
Operation Ganga
Website
indianairforce.nic.in Edit this at Wikidata
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief
India President Droupadi Murmu
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
General Anil Chauhan
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)
Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari
Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS)
Air marshal Amar Preet Singh
Notable
commanders
Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh
Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal
Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee
Insignia
Roundel
Roundel of India.svg
Fin flash
Fin Flash of India.svg
Flag
Air Force Ensign of India.svg
President’s Colour
President’s Colour of Indian Air Forces.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack
Jaguar, Eitan, Harop
Electronic
warfare
A-50E/I, DRDO AEW&CS
Fighter
Su-30MKI, Rafale, Tejas, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, MiG-21
Helicopter
CH-47 Chinook, Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26,
Attack helicopter
Prachand, Apache AH-64E, Mi-25/35, Rudra
Interceptor
MiG 21
Reconnaissance
Searcher II, Heron
Trainer
Hawk Mk 132, HJT-16 Kiran, Pilatus C-7 Mk II
Transport
C-130J, C-17 Globemaster III, CH-47F (I) Chinook, Il-76, An-32, HS 748, Do 228, Boeing 737, ERJ 135, Boeing 777
Tanker
Il-78 MKI
IAF Trailer for 89th Air Force Day.
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.[12] As of 1 July 2017, 170,576 personnel are in service with the Indian Air Force.[13][14] 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
Network-centric warfare
The Air Force Network (AFNET), a robust digital information grid that enabled quick and accurate threat responses, was launched in 2010, helping the IAF become a truly network-centric air force. AFNET is a secure communication network linking command and control centres with offensive aircraft, sensor platforms and ground missile batteries. Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), an automated system for Air Defence operations will ride the AFNet backbone integrating ground and airborne sensors, weapon systems and command and control nodes. Subsequent integration with civil radar and other networks shall provide an integrated Air Situation Picture, and reportedly acts as a force multiplier for intelligence analysis, mission control, and support activities like maintenance and logistics. The design features multiple layers of security measures, including encryption and intrusion prevention technologies, to hinder and deter espionage efforts.[258]
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