Jump to content

List of active Indian military aircraft

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article provides a list of active Indian military aircraft currently in service with the Indian Armed Forces, as well as aircraft on order. For a list of historical military aircraft used by the Indian military, see list of historical aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

Air Force

HAL Tejas at Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024
IAF Rafale take off from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, France.
A Su-30MKI firing Brahmos ER
Netra AEW&C on Embraer ERJ 145 platform
C-17 Globemaster III in service
C-295 is replacing HS-748
HAL Prachand
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Dassault Rafale France Multirole DH 8[1]
EH 28[1]
HAL Tejas India Multirole Mk.1 31[2][3]
Conversion trainer Mk.1 Trainer 4[4][5] Used for training; 14 more on order[6]
Multirole Mk.1A 73 on order, 97 more approved[6][7]
Sukhoi Su-30MKI Russia Multirole Su-30MKI Flanker H 259[8][9] 12 more cleared.[10]
Mikoyan MiG-29 Soviet Union Multirole Fulcrum 52[1][11][12] Including 12 MiG-29UPG.
Fulcrum B 7[1]
Dassault Mirage 2000 France Multirole -2000H 37[1]
-2000TH 10[1] Used for training.
SEPECAT Jaguar United Kingdom Attack IB 28[1] Used for training.
IS 79[1]
IM 8[1] Maritime strike aircraft carrying Sea Eagle missile.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Soviet Union Interceptor MiG-21 Bison 40[13] Being phased out.[14]
AEW&CS
Embraer R-99 Brazil AEW&C Netra Mk1 3[15] equipped with a Netra AEW&CS.
Beriev A-50 Soviet Union AEW&C A-50EI 3[15] equipped with the EL/W-2090 radar. 2 more planned.[16][17]
Reconnaissance
Boeing 707 United States SIGINT / ELINT 707-337C Phalcon 1[15] Operated by Aviation Research Centre (ARC) of R&AW.[18][19]
Global 5000 United States SIGINT / ELINT 2[15]
Gulfstream III United States ELINT SRA[20] 3[15]
Gulfstream G100 Israel surveillance 1125 Astra 2[15]
Tanker
Ilyushin Il-78 Soviet Union aerial refuelling Il-78MKI 6[15]
Transport
Boeing 777 United States VIP transport 777-300ER 2[21] Used as Air India One for presidential flight
Boeing 737 United States VIP transport 737-700 3[22]
Embraer Legacy 600 Brazil VIP transport 4[23]
Boeing C-17 United States strategic airlifter 11[15]
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet Union strategic airlifter Il-76MD 17[15]
C-130J Super Hercules United States tactical airlifter C-130J-30[24] 12[15]
Airbus A321 Europe transport A321-200 4[15]
Antonov An-32 Soviet Union tactical airlifter 103[15] 53 are the 32RE variant[25]
EADS CASA C-295 Spain tactical airlifter C-295W 6[26] 50 more on order — HS 748 replacement[27]
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 United Kingdom tactical airlifter 57[15] To be replaced by EADS CASA C-295
Dornier Do 228 Germany tactical airlifter 228-201 58[15] license built by HAL[28]
Helicopters
Boeing AH-64 United States attack AH-64E 22[15]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack Mi-25/35 15[15]
HAL Prachand India attack 10[29] 66 on order[30]
HAL Rudra India attack 16 50 on order.[31]
CH-47 Chinook United States transport CH-47F 15[15]
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility Mi-17V-5 222[15]
HAL Dhruv India utility 95[15]
HAL Light Utility Helicopter India utility 6 on order[32]
Alouette III France/India liaison Chetak 77[15] license-built by HAL. A fleet of around 120 aircraft.[33]
Cheetal 18[34]
SA 315B Lama France/India utility Cheetah 18[15]
Trainer Aircraft
BAE Hawk United Kingdom Advanced trainer Hawk 132 101

[15][35]

HAL Kiran India Intermediate trainer 77[15]
HAL HTT-40 India Basic trainer 70 on order [15]
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland Basic trainer Mk II 75[15]
Pipistrel Virus Slovenia Ab initio trainer 72[36][37]
UAV
IAI Heron Israel surveillance Heron 1 47[38] [39]
IAI Heron Mk 2 Israel surveillance Mk 2 4[40][41]
MQ-9 Reaper United States Surveillance/ Combat SkyGuardian 8 on order [42]
IAI Searcher Israel surveillance Mk. I / II [43]
ALS-50 India loitering munition 100[44]
Kadet Loitering Aerial Munition India loitering munition 50+ on order Developed by DRDO and KDS

Multiple variants; Weight - 15 to 120 kg; Warhead - 2 to 40 kg; Max. Endurance - 12 hrs; Max. Range - 150 to 300 km; Canister launched and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) variants[45][46]

Army Aviation Corps

HAL Rudra attack helicopters during Rudra Shakti 2024 exercise
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
Boeing AH-64 United States attack AH-64E(I) 6 on order[47]
HAL Prachand India attack 90 on order[30]
HAL Rudra India attack 75[48][49]
HAL Dhruv India utility 76[49][50] 19 more on order[51][52]
Alouette III France/India liaison / utility Chetak 190[53][54] - 200[55] license-built by HAL
SA 315B Lama France/India liaison / utility Cheetah
UAV
Drishti-10 Israel/India Reconnaissance 2 on order[56]
IAI Heron Israel Surveillance Heron 1 [57]
IAI Heron TP Israel Surveillance 4[58] Deployed in Ladakh and Northeast.
IAI Heron Mk 2 Israel Surveillance Mk 2 6 on order[59]
IAI Searcher[60] Israel Reconnaissance Mk-II <100[61]
MQ-9 Reaper United States Surveillance/ Combat SkyGuardian 8 on order [42]
Ideaforge Switch [62][63] India Surveillance 1.0 undisclosed quantities on order[62]
NewSpace NIMBUS India Swarm drones Mk-III 75 Part of autonomous surveillance and armed drone swarm (A-SADS)[64][65]
NewSpace BELUGA India Swarm drones 25
Raphe MPhibr MR-20[66] India Cargo 48[66]
Heliborne operation from HAL Dhruv MK-III
A Boeing P-8I Neptune of Indian Navy
MH-60R Seahawk helicopter of Indian Navy
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-29 Russia multirole MiG-29K 40[67][68] 7 KUB variants provide conversion training
Maritime patrol
Boeing P-8 United States ASW / patrol P-8I 12[67]
Dornier Do 228 Germany surveillance 228-201[28] 31[69][70] 6 on order[70]
Britten-Norman BN-2 United Kingdom utility / patrol BN-2B/2T[71] 4[67]
Helicopters
HAL Dhruv India utility 24[67]
Kamov Ka-31 Russia AEW 14[67] employs a Planar array radar
Kamov Ka-27 Russia ASW Ka-28 14[67]
SH-60 Seahawk United States ASW / SAR MH-60R 6[72] 24 on order[73]
Westland Sea King United Kingdom SAR / utility Mk.42B/C[74] 25[67] six are UH-3H variants
HAL Chetak France/India liaison / utility 42[67]
Trainer Aircraft
Pipistrel Virus Slovenia Ab initio trainer 12[37]
BAE Hawk United Kingdom Jet trainer Hawk 132 17[67]
HAL Kiran India Jet trainer 20[67]
UAV
IAI Heron[75] Israel surveillance Heron 1 14[76] [77][78]
IAI Searcher[43] Israel surveillance Mk. II
MQ-9 Reaper United States Surveillance/ Combat SeaGuardian 2[79] (On lease) 15 on order[42]
Drishti-10 Israel/India surveillance 2[80][81]

Coast Guard

A Dornier Do-228-101
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Maritime patrol
Dornier Do 228 Germany reconnaissance 101/201[28] 36[82] 2 on order[83]
Helicopters
HAL Dhruv India utility Mk. I / Mk. III 4 / 16[84][85][86] 9 Mk.III on order[87][88]
HAL Chetak France/India utility 17[89]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Military Balance 2024. The International Institute for Strategic Studies. pp. 269–270. ISBN 9781032780047.
  2. ^ "Delivery of single-seat Tejas LCA Mark 1 fighters to IAF completed". Business Standard. 23 August 2023.
  3. ^ "1st Crash In 23 Years Of Its History, 5 Facts About Tejas Fighter Jet". NDTV.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  4. ^ "HAL to deliver last four LCA Mk-1 trainers to IAF in 6 months". Hindustan Times. 18 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Tejas MK-1A completes maiden flight, first delivery soon". The Times of India. 28 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b Philip, Snehesh Alex (3 February 2021). "Contract signed for 83 LCA Tejas fighters, all eyes now on HAL delivery schedule". ThePrint. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Rs 2.23 lakh crore-deal: India approves purchase of 97 Tejas aircraft, 156 Prachanda helicopters, other defence equipment". Money Control. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  8. ^ "India moves closer to adding $4B upgrades to Su-30 jets - AeroTime". 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Air Force's Sukhoi fighter jet crashes in Maharashtra's Nashik: Report". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Nod for Rs 45,000cr defence buys, 12 more Sukhois to fly in". The Times of India. 16 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  11. ^ "MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes In Rajasthan, Pilot Safe". NDTV.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  12. ^ "MiG-29 fighter jet crashes near Agra; pilot ejected from plane". The Economic Times. 4 November 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Another MiG-21 Squadron Retired: The Curtain Is Closing on IAF's Most Abiding Fighter". The Wire. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  14. ^ Peri, Dinakar (8 November 2023). "How are the MiG-21 fighter jets being phased out? | Explained". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "World Air Forces 2024". 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  16. ^ "2024 World Air Forces". www.flightglobal.com.
  17. ^ "Ladakh face-off: India to order 2 more Israeli 'eyes in sky' for $1 billion". The Times of India. 27 August 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Special Mission Aircraft are cheaper to operate than older intelligence gathering assets". Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  19. ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (14 May 2020). "India's oldest flying aircraft in spotlight after radar website shows it going to Pakistan". ThePrint. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  20. ^ Menon, Jay (23 April 2013). "RFP Coming Soon For Indian Airborne Jamming Aircraft". aviationweek.com. AWIN First.
  21. ^ "PM's new special aircraft, equipped with missile defence systems, lands in Delhi". Hindustan Times. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  22. ^ "India's Air Force One takes off on first official flight". dna. PTI. 1 April 2009.
  23. ^ "India gets first Embraer jet with Indian airborne radar tech". The Hindu Business Line. PTI. 17 August 2012.
  24. ^ "Purchase of Transport Aircraft". Press Information Bureau. 12 December 2011.
  25. ^ Chandra, Atul (27 November 2015). "India receives last batch of Ukraine-upgraded An-32s". Flightglobal.com.
  26. ^ "First indigenous C-295 aircrafts [sic] to roll out of Vadodara manufacturing facility in September 2026". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Govt Seals Mega Deal with Airbus for Purchase of 56 C-295 Military Transport Aircraft". News18. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  28. ^ a b c Jackson, Paul; Munson, Kenneth; Peacock, Lindsay, eds. (2004). "HAL (Dornier) 228". Jane's All the World's Aircraft (95th year of issue 2004-2005. ed.). Coulsdon: Janes Information Group. p. 206. ISBN 0710626142.
  29. ^ "CCS Approves Procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Limited Series Production (LSP) from HAL for IAF (10) & IA(05)". www.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  30. ^ a b "IAF's Strengthened Arsenal: Acquisition of 97 Tejas Mk1A Jets Marks a Milestone". Financialexpress. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  31. ^ "About 50 Rudra Attack Helicopters To Be Acquired By The Indian Air Force". 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  32. ^ Pubby, Manu. "Indigenous light choppers get go-ahead, delivery in 2022". The Economic Times.
  33. ^ "Indigenous LUH Set to Replace Aging Cheetah and Chetak Fleet". Financialexpress. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  34. ^ "Indigenous LUH Set to Replace Aging Cheetah and Chetak Fleet". Financialexpress. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  35. ^ "IAF's Hawk aircraft crashes at Kalaikunda airbase in Bengal; pilots eject safely". Hindustan Times. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  36. ^ "Pipistrel completes deliveries of Garud trainers to India | Jane's 360". archive.ph. 29 April 2020. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  37. ^ a b "The whole batch of aircraft for the Ministry of Defence of India has been successfully delivered". Pipistrel Aircraft.
  38. ^ "Defence Industry Daily: Israel sells heron UAVs to India and Australia". Strategypage.com. 11 November 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  39. ^ "IAF's 'Heron' RPA crashes in Jaisalmer; Court of Inquiry initiated". Financialexpress. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  40. ^ "India inducts new drones at forward air base in Northern sector: Report". Hindustan Times. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  41. ^ "Indian Air Force inducts Heron Mk II". Janes.com. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  42. ^ a b c "India, US sign deal worth Rs 32,000 crore for buying 31 Predator drones". ANI. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  43. ^ a b Bedi, Rahul (16 September 2015). "India to buy Heron TP UAVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 52 (44). ISSN 2048-3430.
  44. ^ "Aero India 2023: IAF to receive 100 loitering munitions from TASL". Janes.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  45. ^ "India's first kamikaze drone developed; 5,000 units can be made in 2-3 yrs". The Week. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  46. ^ "Kadet Defence systems introduces India's pioneering Loitering Aerial Munitions (LAM) for the armed forces". Financialexpress. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  47. ^ "Boeing begins production of army's Apache helicopters; deliveries next year". Hindustan Times. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  48. ^ "Watch: IAF's Apache-like Made in India Light Combat Helicopter". The Economic Times. 27 September 2022. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  49. ^ a b "Army Chief says LCH good for high altitude; Army to procure 95 of them". Financialexpress. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  50. ^ Team, IADN Editorial (25 May 2024). "HAL delivers Dhruv helicopters to Army within 2 weeks of contract signing - IADN". - IADN. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  51. ^ "India's defence ministry signs deals worth $975 mln for indigenous helicopters". Reuters. 13 March 2024.
  52. ^ "Centre approves 34 new Dhruv choppers for Army, Coast Guard". India Today. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  53. ^ "Indigenous LUH Set to Replace Aging Cheetah and Chetak Fleet". Financialexpress. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  54. ^ "Army Aviation augments combat power while ageing Cheetah, Chetaks await replacement". The Hindu. 10 July 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  55. ^ "Two pilots killed after Army's Cheetah helicopter crashes near Arunachal's Bomdila; probe ordered". The Indian Express. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  56. ^ "India orders Hermes 900 for army, navy". Janes.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  57. ^ "IAF's 'Heron' RPA crashes in Jaisalmer; Court of Inquiry initiated". Financialexpress. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  58. ^ "Army Gets Deliveries of 2 Israeli Heron TP Drones Bought in 2020, Deploys Them Along LAC in Ladakh". News18. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  59. ^ Thakur, Vijainder K. (24 October 2022). "Decisive Edge For IAF? India Negotiating With Israel To Locally Manufacture 'Weaponizable' Heron Mk2 Drones". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  60. ^ Bedi, Rahul (20 February 2013). "India signs up for more Heron UAVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 50 (12). ISSN 2048-3430.
  61. ^ "Show aircraft class: IAI Searcher". milpower.
  62. ^ a b "Indian Army signs $20 mn contract with ideaForge to procure SWITCH drones". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  63. ^ "Switch Prime" (PDF). ideaForge. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  64. ^ "Indian army receives its first swarm drones from newspace". The IGMP (9 march 2023).
  65. ^ "Indian Army receives 'swarming' UAVs". Janes.com. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  66. ^ a b "First Look At Indian Army's New Cargo Drones For Ladakh". livefistdefence. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  67. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  68. ^ "Indian Navy reports crash of fifth MiG-29K in four years". 13 October 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  69. ^ "MoD signs contract worth over Rs. 2,890 cr with HAL for Mid Life Upgrade of 25 Dornier Aircraft of Indian Navy". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  70. ^ a b "Commissioning of INAS 314 - "Raptors"". Press Information Bureau. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  71. ^ "Dorniers | INAS 550 – The Flying Fish". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  72. ^ Sentinels, India. "Lockheed Martin delivers 6th MH-60R 'Romeo' helicopter to Indian Navy". www.indiasentinels.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  73. ^ "Romeos are coming to India! Long wait for MH-60R multi-mission helicopter for Indian Navy is over". Financialexpress. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  74. ^ Hiranandani, G. M. (2005). Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990. Lancer Publishers. p. 99. ISBN 9788170622666.
  75. ^ Mallapur, Chaitanya (4 May 2015). "India tops list of drone-importing nations". IndiaSpend. Business Standard.
  76. ^ "IAF's 'Heron' RPA crashes in Jaisalmer; Court of Inquiry initiated". Financialexpress. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  77. ^ "Eye in the sky to guard Gujarat coast". The Times of India. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  78. ^ "Indian Navy commissions first UAV squadron". Us.rediff.com. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  79. ^ Peri, Dinakar (25 November 2020). "Navy inducts two Sea Guardian drones on lease from U.S." The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  80. ^ "India's first indigenously manufactured UAV 'Drishti 10 Starliner' flagged off". Hindustan Times. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  81. ^ "Navy gets first India-made long endurance Drishti 10 Starliner drone". India Today. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  82. ^ "Indian Coast Guard to induct 16 Advanced Light Helicopters in July, 2 of them for North-East". The Statesman. 2 April 2019.
  83. ^ "Indian Coast Guard to get Dornier aircraft from HAL". 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  84. ^ "Army Clears Grounded 'Dhruv' Chopper Fleet For Flight, But Conditions Apply". NDTV.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  85. ^ "Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III squadron, 840 Sqn (CG), commissioned in Chennai". www.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  86. ^ "Indian Coast Guard looks for new helicopters, rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicles". The Hindu. 26 November 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  87. ^ "India's defence ministry signs deals worth $975 mln for indigenous helicopters". Reuters. 13 March 2024.
  88. ^ "Cabinet Committee on Security clears 34 new Dhruv choppers for Indian Coast Guard, Army". The Economic Times. 7 March 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  89. ^ "The Military Balance 2023". International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 252. Retrieved 27 December 2023.