Indian Air Force

• The Indian Airforce with 135,000 active personnel, defends the Indian airspace.
• At present, the Indian Airforce (IAF) has 29 fighter squadrons. But to be effective against China and Pakistan, India needs at-least 42 squadrons.

Combat Aircraft

These are the “warriors of the sky. Their main job is to fight and destroy enemy aircraft, ground targets, or ships using missiles, bombs, and guns.

India is planning to issue global bids for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA). Potential contenders include Lockheed Martin (F‑21), Dassault (Rafale), Sukhoi (Su‑57), Saab (Gripen E), and Eurofighter.

Reconnaissance Aircraft

These are the “eyes and ears of the Air Force.” Their job is to collect intelligence — taking high-resolution photos, radar scans, or electronic data from enemy areas without getting caught.

Tanker Aircraft

These are aerial petrol pumps that refuel other aircraft mid-air, so that fighter jets can stay longer in the air and go farther without returning to base. This capability greatly extends the range of combat aircraft during missions.

Transport Aircraft

These are the “trucks and trains of the sky.” They carry troops, weapons, food, medical aid, or even tanks to areas where they’re needed — from high mountains to disaster zones.

Helicopters

• Unlike jets, they can take off and land vertically, even from narrow mountain helipads or moving ships.
• They are used for transporting troops, search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster relief, and combat support.

UAVs

Rafale is 4.5 generation Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) aircraft made by Dassault Aviation of France.

The Rafale deal was part of India’s effort to modernize its ageing Air Force fleet and maintain air superiority, especially given China’s 5th-generation J-20 and Pakistan’s JF-17 programs.

Main features of Rafale

• 4.5 generation Multirole combat aircraft, i.e. can be used for ground support, in-depth strike, and anti-ship strike.
• Rafale is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
• Equipped with precision air to air and air to surface missiles.
• Range: 3,700 Km
• Max Speed: 1,389 Km/hr
• Load Carrying Capacity: 9,500 Kg

Rafale Acquisition: Chronology of Events

Issues

• The stealth system of Rafale is outdated compared to other competitors in the same class.
• Rafale doesn’t have STOVL (Short take-off and vertical landing) capability, present in other competitors.
• Brazilian Airforce was earlier interested in buying Rafale but later changed to Swedish Gripen jet.

• HAL Tejas or Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is a 4th Generation fighter aircraft made by India. Tejas represents India’s ambition to build a fully indigenous multirole fighter aircraft — strengthening both national security and technological self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Chronology

Features of HAL Tejas

• Type: 4th Generation Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
• Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Objective: To replace India’s ageing MiG-21 fleet.
• Indigenous Content: Around 60%, including avionics, flight controls, and composites.
• Max Speed: ~1,350 km/h.
• Radius of Action: ~400 km (without refuelling).
• Load Capacity: ~12 tonnes.
• Design: Delta wing configuration for stability and agility.
• Key Technologies: Fly-by-wire control, digital glass cockpit, composite airframe, and advanced radar.
• Operational Features: Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, air-to-air refuelling, and STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) for naval use.

Side Topic: (LCA) Kaveri

• Kaveri is the name of Tejas’s engine that was to be used, but India couldn’t make it on time to be used in the plane.
• It would have been India’s first indigenous gas turbine engine.

Sukhoi T-50, also known as FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) in the Indo-Russian version, was conceived as a joint venture between Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and India’s HAL to build a 5th-generation stealth fighter based on Russia’s PAK FA / Su-57 platform.

It will have the following characteristics

1. Stealth design – radar-absorbing materials, special airframe shape, and concealed weapons bays.
2. Thrust-vectoring engines for superior maneuverability.
3. Crew: Single or twin-seat variants.
4. Armament: 30 mm cannon + up to 16 weapon hardpoints (8 internal + 8 external).
5. Maximum Speed: ~Mach 2.
6. Fuel Capacity: ~10,300 kg for long-range missions.
7. Advanced Avionics: Integrated sensors, 360° situational awareness, and data fusion.

But in 2018, India has conveyed its unwillingness to Russia to go ahead with this project due to the high costs involved. Russia continued development of its own version, now called Su-57, which entered limited service with the Russian Air Force.

1. Dhruv (Advanced Light Helicopter)

Dhruv features of this helicopter

• Dhruv was designed for the military as well as civilian purposes.
• It is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It can play multiple roles: logistics, rescue and attack for Army, Navy, Airforce and Coast Guard.
• It’s armed version is called Rudra.

History

• The project was first announced in 1984 & was designed in assistance with MBB of Germany.
• First flew in 1992 but developments prolonged due to budget restrictions and various restrictions placed on India after Pokhran 2 in 1998.
• Entered into service in 2002. 
• First exported to Nepal & Israel & is on order by several other countries.

2. Light Combat Helicopter Prachand

• LCH Prachand is indigenously developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
• It is a multi-role combat helicopter. With this, India has become the seventh country to make attack helicopters. 
• Features of LCH Prachand
  1. Range: 550 Km
  2. Endurance: 3 hours
  3. Maximum height at which it can fly: 6.5 Km
  4. It is the only combat helicopter in the world which can land and takeoff at an altitude of 5,000 m.
  5. Equipped with a ‘COUNTERMEASURE DISPENSE SYSTEM‘ to protect it from enemy radars and missiles.

3. Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

• Manufactured by HAL
• It will replace ageing Cheetah and Chetak that have been the backbone of India’s light utility operations for decades.
• LUH completes India’s indigenous “3-helicopter family” — LCH (combat), ALH Dhruv (multi-role), and LUH (light utility)
• Features of LUH
  • Role: Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Rescue, and Light Transport.
  • Crew: 2 (pilot + co-pilot)
  • Capacity: Can carry up to 6 passengers or 500–600 kg of payload.
  • Engines: Single Shakti-1U turboshaft engine (co-developed with Safran, France).
  • Range: ~350–400 km
  • Service Ceiling: 6.5 km (can operate in Siachen & Himalayan terrain).
  • Cruise Speed: ~235 km/h
  • Avionics: Full glass cockpit with digital displays and advanced communication systems.
  • Unique Feature: Can take off and land from extremely small or high-altitude helipads — ideal for operations in Siachen, Northeast, and border posts.

4. Legacy Helicopter Fleet- Cheetah and Chetak

HAL Cheetah

• Cheetah is a light utility helicopter used mainly for high-altitude operations like Siachen.
• It is small, agile, and can land where no other helicopter can — but it’s quite old now.

HAL Chetak

• Chetak is a light, multipurpose helicopter used for transport, training, and rescue.
• Based on the French Alouette design, it’s reliable but outdated

1. Chinook

• Chinooks are the heavy-lift helicopters used by the US Army. 
• India decided to buy 15 Chinook helicopters from the USA in 2016, and the first batch was delivered in 2019.
• Features of Chinook Helicopters
  1. Twin Engine with Tandem Rotor.
  2. Can carry up to 35 troops or 24 stretchers with 3 attendants or 10,500 kg payload.
  3. Advanced Avionics. 
  4. Advanced M240 Machine Gun

2. Apache

• Apache is USA’s most advanced ‘attack helicopter’. 
• India has bought 22 Apache Helicopters.
• Features of Apache Helicopters
  1. Twin Turboshaft Engines
  2. Armed with missiles like Hellfire, Spike and Stinger missiles
  3. Armed with advanced M230 Chain Guns
  4. Night vision systems
  5. Advanced avionics

3. Mi-17

• Mi-17 is a Russian origin transport helicopter manufactured by Kazan Helicopters.
• It is one of the most advanced transport helicopters equipped with advanced features such as
  1. Advanced self-defence system equipped with 23 mm cannon and heat-seeking missiles
  2. Twin-engine single rotor
  3. Highly sophisticated navigation and avionics system
  4. Maximum speed of 250 km/hr
  5. Range of 675 Km
  6. Payload capacity of 4,000Kg
  7. Capacity to transport up to 36 troops.
• It is used for the transportation of VVIPs, including PM and army chiefs.