Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces, responsible for safeguarding Indian airspace and conducting aerial warfare during both peace and conflict. Since its establishment in 1932, the IAF has evolved into one of the most advanced and powerful air forces in the world, with a broad mandate encompassing air defence, strategic deterrence, humanitarian assistance, and international peacekeeping operations.

Historical Background

The Indian Air Force was officially founded on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air component of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during British rule. The first squadron, No. 1 Squadron, was formed in April 1933 with four Westland Wapiti biplanes and six Indian officers. The IAF first saw combat during the Second World War, providing crucial air support in the Burma Campaign against Japanese forces.
Following India’s independence in 1947, the IAF was renamed the Royal Indian Air Force, but after the declaration of India as a republic in 1950, the prefix “Royal” was dropped, and it became simply the Indian Air Force. Since then, the IAF has played decisive roles in multiple conflicts — the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1947, 1965, and 1971, the Kargil conflict (1999), and various peacekeeping and relief missions.

Organisational Structure and Command

The IAF operates under the Ministry of Defence and is headed by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), a four-star Air Chief Marshal. The CAS reports to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Defence Minister. The IAF’s organisational structure is divided into seven operational commands and two functional commands, each responsible for different geographical and operational domains:

• Western Air Command (WAC) – Headquartered at New Delhi; responsible for the Indo-Pakistan border in the north and west.
• Eastern Air Command (EAC) – Shillong; oversees the borders with China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
• Southern Air Command (SAC) – Thiruvananthapuram; monitors peninsular India and maritime air operations.
• Central Air Command (CAC) – Prayagraj; provides strategic air support and coordination.
• South Western Air Command (SWAC) – Gandhinagar; covers Gujarat and Rajasthan sectors.
• Training Command (TC) – Bengaluru; responsible for training all IAF personnel.
• Maintenance Command (MC) – Nagpur; handles repair, logistics, and equipment support.

Roles and Responsibilities

The IAF’s primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial operations during warfare. Its broad responsibilities include:

• Air defence against external aggression.
• Offensive operations to neutralise enemy installations and forces.
• Strategic airlift and logistics support to ground and naval operations.
• Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations during natural calamities.
• Evacuation and rescue missions in both domestic and international emergencies.

Additionally, the IAF contributes to UN peacekeeping operations and supports civil administration during crises, including medical airlifts and relief supplies.

Aircraft and Weapon Systems

The Indian Air Force operates a diverse fleet of aircraft sourced from both domestic and international manufacturers. These include fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Major combat aircraft include:

• Sukhoi Su-30MKI: A twin-seater multirole fighter of Russian origin, forming the backbone of the IAF’s fleet.
• Dassault Rafale: Advanced French-built multirole fighters inducted from 2020.
• HAL Tejas: India’s indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA).
• Mirage 2000: French aircraft extensively used during the Kargil War.
• MiG-29 and Jaguar: Multirole and strike aircraft used for deep penetration and air superiority missions.

Transport and support aircraft include:

• C-17 Globemaster III and C-130J Super Hercules for heavy and medium-lift operations.
• Antonov An-32 and Dornier 228 for logistics and short-haul flights.
• IL-76 aircraft used for strategic airlift and refuelling.

Helicopter fleet:

• HAL Dhruv, Mi-17V5, Apache AH-64E, and Chinook CH-47F serve in troop transport, attack, and logistics roles.

Unmanned systems and missiles:The IAF uses UAVs like Heron and Searcher for surveillance and reconnaissance, along with indigenous systems under development. Missile capabilities include Astra air-to-air missile, Akash surface-to-air missile, and integration of BrahMos cruise missiles on select fighter platforms.

Training and Personnel

Training within the IAF is comprehensive, covering flying, technical, and administrative domains. The Air Force Academy (AFA) at Dundigal, Hyderabad, is the primary training institution for officer cadets, while the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune also contributes to initial military education.
Other institutions include:

• Flying Instructors School (Tambaram)
• Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) – Gwalior
• College of Air Warfare (Secunderabad)

Personnel are categorised as officers, airmen, and civilians. Officer recruitment is through AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) and NDA. Women officers serve in various branches including flying, technical, and administrative roles, with growing inclusion in combat flying roles.

Indigenous Development and Modernisation

In recent decades, the IAF has prioritised indigenisation and modernisation to enhance self-reliance and reduce dependence on imports. The HAL Tejas, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), symbolises this effort.
Other indigenous projects include:

• Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) – a fifth-generation stealth fighter under development.
• Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) by HAL.
• Netra AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft developed by DRDO.

The IAF also aims for integration with space-based and cyber defence systems, reflecting its transition toward a network-centric warfare capability.

Operations and Achievements

The IAF has participated in all major Indian military conflicts:

• 1947–48: Played a crucial role in airlifting troops to Kashmir.
• 1965: Engaged in extensive dogfights and ground support operations against Pakistan.
• 1971: Achieved air superiority, contributing significantly to the liberation of Bangladesh.
• 1999 (Kargil War): Executed precision airstrikes under “Operation Safed Sagar.”
• Balakot Airstrike (2019): Conducted cross-border strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan in response to the Pulwama attack.

Beyond combat, the IAF has provided humanitarian support during earthquakes, floods, and the evacuation of Indian citizens during crises such as Operation Rahat (Yemen, 2015) and Operation Ganga (Ukraine, 2022).

Strategic Partnerships and International Engagement

The IAF regularly conducts bilateral and multilateral exercises with foreign air forces to strengthen interoperability and enhance tactical proficiency. Key exercises include:

• Garuda (with France)
• Cope India (with the United States)
• Indradhanush (with the United Kingdom)
• Desert Eagle (with the UAE)

These engagements contribute to India’s strategic defence diplomacy and help align the IAF with global best practices.

Insignia, Motto, and Ethos

The IAF’s motto, “Nabhah Sparsham Deeptam”, meaning “Touch the Sky with Glory”, is derived from the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11, Verse 24). Its insignia features the Ashoka Chakra and eagle wings, symbolising courage, strength, and precision.
The IAF celebrates Air Force Day annually on 8 October, commemorating its establishment and honouring the valour of its personnel through air displays and parades.