INDIAN AIR FORCE

By

JESAL PATEL

(NR 11106)

The Indian Air Force Today

• IAF today, having completed Platinum Jubilee of a dedicated service to the nation.

• It is the fourth largest air force in the world, with a strength of 1,322 aircraft, including 680 combat aircraft and 305 helicopters, and presently operates a total of 34 squadrons.

• All this aircraft belong to 4.5 generations. The only 4.5 generation fighter Aircraft developed by India is HALL- TEJAS.

• The Indian Air Force has seven commands, of which five are operational and two functional, namely :• HQ Central Air Command, Allahabad • HQ Eastern Air Command, Shillong • HQ Western Air Command, New Delhi • HQ Southern Air Command, Thiruvananthapuram • HQ South-Western Air Command, Gandhinagar • HQ Maintenance Command, Nagpur • HQ Training Command, Bangalore

History of IAF

• Indian air force established on 8th October 1932 under British rule.

• Early it was name as Royal Indian Air Force.• The aircraft RIAF 1st operated was wapiti

planes with one squadron.• Prefix of Royal has been dropped when India

became a republic in 1950.

Major Operations of IAF

• IAF has been involved in four wars till now three with neighbouring Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of China.

• Major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Cactus.

• Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Hierarchy of Indian Air Force

1 • Air Chief Marshall

2 • Air Marshall

3 • Air Vice Marshall

4 • Air Commander

5 • Wing Commander

6 • Squadron Leader

7 • Flight Leutenant

8 • Flying Officer

Aircrafts with IAF

• SU-30Twin seater twin engine multirole fighter of Russian origin which carries 130 mm GSH gun alongwith 8000 kg external armament. It has a max  speed of 2500 km/hr

• Mirage-2000A single seater air defence and multi-role fighter of French origin powered by a single engine can attain max speed of 2495 km/hr. 

• MIG-29Twin engine, single seater air superiority fighter aircraft of Russian origin capable of attaining max. speed of 2445 km per hour. It carries a 30 mm cannon alongwith four R-60 close combat and two R-27 medium range radar guided missiles.

• MIG-27Single engine, single seater tactical strike fighter aircraft of Russian origin having a max. speed of 1700 km/hr.  It carries one 23 mm six-barrel rotary integral cannon and can carry upto 4000 kg of other armament externally.

• MIG-21 BISSingle engine, single seater multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft of Russian origin which forms the back-bone of the IAF.   It has a max speed of 2230 km/hr and carries   one 23mm twin barrel cannon with four R-60 close combat missiles.

• JaguarA twin-engine, single seater aircraft of Anglo-French origin which has a max. speed of 1350 km /hr.   It has two 30mm guns and can carry two R-350 Magic CCMs (overwing) along with 4750 kg of external stores (bombs/fuel).

• IL-76A four engine heavy duty/long haul military transport aircraft of Russian origin with a max speed of 850 km/hr.  It has a twin 23 mm cannon and capacity to carry 225 paratroopers or 40 tonnes freight,  wheeled or tracked armoured vehicles.

• MI-26Twin engine turboshaft, military heavy lift helicopter of Russian origin with carrying capacity of 70 combat equipped troops or 20,000 kg payload.  It has a max speed of 295 km/hr.

• MI-25 Twin engine turboshaft, assault and anti armour helicopter capable of carrying 8 men assault squad  with four barrel 12.7 mm rotary gun in nose and upto 1500 Kg of external ordnance including Scorpion anti-tank missiles. It has a max cruise speed of  310 km/hr.

• ChetakSingle engine turboshaft, light utility French helicopter with capacity of 6 passengers or 500 kg load.  The anti-tank version carries 4 AS-11 wire guided missiles.  It has a max speed of 220 km/hr.

Upcoming Project MMRCA

• The IAF Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) commonly known as the MRCA Tender, is an ongoing competition to supply the Indian Air Force with 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft.

• The Defence Ministry has allocated Rs. 42,000 crore for the purchase of these aircraft.

THANK YOU