List of active Indian military aircraft

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Last edited July 2, 2023


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

Air Force

Further information: Indian Air Force
IAF Rafale take off from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, France.
A HAL Tejas firing Python-5.
A Su-30MKI
Netra AEW&C on Embraer ERJ 145 platform
A C-130J Hercules on approach
A Mil Mi-17 helicopter
An AH-64 Apache
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Dassault Rafale France Multirole EH/DH[1] 29[2][3] 7 to be delivered.[4]
Sukhoi Su-30 Russia
India 		Multirole Su-30MKI 260[5][6] [7]
HAL Tejas India Multirole Mk. 1 22[8] 10 to be delivered.[9]
Mk. 1A 73 on order.[10]
MiG-29 Russia Multirole MiG-29UPG[11] 66[12][13] [7]
Mirage 2000 France Multirole 2000 H/I 49[12]
SEPECAT Jaguar United Kingdom Ground attack IM/IS[14] 120 Being upgraded to Darin III standard which includes an indigenous engine and flight display unit (EFDU),[15] ASRAAM, EL/M-2052 AESA radar etc.[16]
MiG-21 Soviet Union Interceptor Bison 64[17][18][19] Will be retired by 2025
AWACS
DRDO AEW&CS India AEW&C Netra Mk.II To be equipped with DRDO-developed AESA radar in radome configuration on ex-Air India Airbus A321 & A319 aircraft. 6 on order.[20][21]
DRDO Netra India AEW&C Netra 2 Equipped with DRDO-developed Netra AEW&CS system on Embraer EMB-145 aircraft. 1 with DRDO as testbed.[22]
Beriev A-50 Soviet Union
Israel 		AEW&C A-50EI 3 Equipped with the EL/W-2090 radar – 2 on order[23]
Reconnaissance
Boeing 707 United States Surveillance 1[23]
Global 5000 United States ELINT 2[23]
Gulfstream G100 Israel Surveillance 1125 Astra 2[23]
Electronic Warfare
Gulfstream III United States EW / ELINT SRA[24] 3[23]
Tanker
Ilyushin Il-78 Soviet Union Aerial refueling Il-78MKI 6[23] Equipped with Israeli fuel-transfer system[25]
Transport
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet Union Strategic airlifter Il-76MD 17[12]
Boeing C-17 United States Strategic airlifter 11[12]
C-130J Super Hercules United States Tactical airlifter C-130J-30[26] 12[12]
Antonov An-32 Ukraine Transport An-32/32RE 104[12] 53 are 32RE variant.[27]
EADS CASA C-295 Spain
India 		Transport C-295MW 56 on order. License built by Tata Advanced Systems,[28] replacing Hawker Siddeley HS 748.
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 United Kingdom Transport 57[12]
Dornier 228 Germany
India 		Utility 228–201[29] 50 4 on order. License built by HAL[12]
Boeing 777 United States VIP transport 777-300ER 2[30] Used as Air India One for presidential flight.
Boeing 737 United States VIP transport 737–700 3[31]
Embraer Legacy 600 Brazil VIP transport 4[32]
Helicopters
HAL Light Combat Helicopter India Attack 5[33][34] 7 limited series production under construction.
Boeing AH-64 Apache United States Attack AH-64E 22[12]
Mil Mi-24 Russia Attack Mi-24/25/35 15[12]
HAL Rudra India Armed 16[35]
CH-47 Chinook United States Heavy transport CH-47F 15[12]
Mil Mi-26 Russia Heavy transport 3[36] Flown to Russia for overhaul
Mil Mi-17 Russia Utility transport Mi-17V-5 223[12]
HAL Dhruv India Utility 123 12 on order.[12]
HAL Light Utility Helicopter India Utility 6 on order.[37]
HAL Chetak France / India Light utility 77[12] License-built version of the Alouette III.
HAL Cheetah France / India Light utility 17[12] License-built version of the SA315B Lama.
Trainer Aircraft
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland Basic trainer Mk II 75[23]
HAL Kiran India Intermediate Trainer 78[23]
BAE Hawk United Kingdom Advanced jet trainer Hawk 132 104[23]
SEPECAT Jaguar United Kingdom / France Conversion trainer IB[14] 30
Mikoyan MiG-21 Soviet Union Conversion trainer U/UM 38[18]
Mirage 2000 France Conversion trainer 2000 H/I 12
HAL Tejas India Conversion trainer Mk. 1 18 on Order.[38][39]
UAV
IAI Harop[40] Israel Loitering munition 110
IAI Harpy[41] Israel Loitering munition
IAI Heron TP[42] Israel Surveillance Heron TP
IAI Heron Israel Surveillance Heron 1 49[43][44]
IAI Searcher Israel Surveillance Mk. I / II Unknown Total 108 drones operated by Indian Military.
DRDO Lakshya India Target drone 15[45]

Army Aviation Corps

Further information: Army Aviation Corps (India)
An Army Dhruv at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2008
HAL Light Combat Helicopter
HAL Rudra
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
HAL Light Combat Helicopter India Attack 1[46] 4 under limited series production[47]
Boeing AH-64 United States Attack AH-64E(I) 6 on order[48]
HAL Rudra India Armed scout 75[49] [50] 10 on order[51]
HAL Dhruv India Utility 109 120 on order[48]
HAL Light Utility Helicopter India Utility 6 on Order[52]
HAL Chetak France / India Liaison / Utility 4[48] License-built version of the Alouette III
HAL Cheetah France / India Liaison / Utility 35 10 on order.[48] License-built version of the SA 315B Lama
UAV
IAI Heron TP[53] Israel Surveillance Heron TP
IAI Heron Israel Unmanned aerial vehicle Heron 1 16 on order[40]
IAI Searcher[44] Israel Unmanned aerial vehicle Mk. I / II
IdeaForge Switch[54] India Unmanned aerial vehicle
Raphe MPhibr MR-20[55] India Unmanned aerial vehicle 48 On Order[56]
Raphe MPhibr MR-10[57] India Swarm Drone On Order[58]
Sky Striker Israel
India		 Loitering munition 100 To be made In India by Alpha Design and Elbit Systems joint venture.[59]
Firefly Israel Loitering munition [60]
Swarm Drone India Swarm Drone 100 On Order[61]

Naval Air Arm

Further information: Indian Naval Air Arm and List of Indian naval aircraft
A Boeing P-8I Neptune of Indian Navy
A Kamov Ka-31 helicopter lands on the USS Bunker Hill
File:MH-60R of Indian Navy..jpg
MH-60R of the Indian Navy.
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-29 Russia Multirole MiG-29K 36[48]
AWACS
Kamov Ka-31 Russia AEW 14[48] Employs a Planar array radar
Maritime patrol
Boeing P-8 United States ASW / patrol P-8I 11[62] 1 on order[48]
Ilyushin Il-38 Soviet Union ASW / patrol 5[48]
Dornier Do 228 Germany Surveillance 228-201[29] 24 12 on order[48]
Britten-Norman BN-2 United Kingdom Utility / Patrol BN-2B/2T[63] 4[48]
Helicopters
SH-60 Seahawk United States ASW / SAR MH-60R 2[64] 22 on order[48]
Kamov Ka-27 Russia ASW Ka-28 14[48]
Westland Sea King United Kingdom SAR / Utility Mk.42B/C[65] 31[48] 6 are UH-3H variants
HAL Dhruv India Utility Mk. I/Mk. III 13[66][67] 12 on order[48]
HAL Chetak France / India Liaison / Utility 36 6 on order[48]
Trainer Aircraft
MiG-29 Russia Conversion trainer MiG-29KUB 8[48][68]
BAE Hawk United Kingdom Jet trainer Hawk 132 17[48]
HAL Kiran India Jet trainer 20[48]
UAV
IAI Heron TP[69] Israel Surveillance Heron TP
IAI Heron Israel Surveillance Heron 1 [43]
IAI Searcher[44] Israel Surveillance Mk. I / II
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper United States Surveillance SeaGuardian 2[70] On Lease For One year
DRDO Lakshya India Target drone 39[71]

Indian Coast Guard

Further information: Indian Coast Guard
A Dornier Do-228-101
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Maritime patrol
Dornier Do 228 Germany Reconnaissance 101/201[29] 36[72]
Helicopters
HAL Dhruv India Utility MK. I 4[73] 10 Mk.III on order.[74]
MK. III 6[75][76]
HAL Chetak France / India Utility 17[77]
Airbus-TATA C-295 Spain
India 		Multi-mission MPA India formalizes acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft Airbus[78]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Les Rafale indiens porteront la dénomination Rafale EH et Rafale DH". defens-aero.com (in français). 11 January 2017.[unreliable source?]
  2. ↑ "India has received 26 Rafale aircraft till date: Govt". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Three more Rafale jets arrive in India from France". Press Trust Of India.
  4. ↑ "Three more Rafale fighters to arrive from France". www.aninews.in. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "India's Aviation Behemoth HAL Expects More Orders as It Completes Production of Su-30MKI". Global Security. 3 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "How Sukhoi-30 fighter jets will help check Chinese footprint in Indian Ocean". Hindustan Times. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Pubby, Manu. "IAF to urgently procure 21 MiG 29s, 12 Su 30s". The Economic Times. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "HAL to ramp up Tejas fighter tests after pandemic pause". The Week.
  9. ↑ "Production of indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas to start soon: HAL CMD". The Financial Express. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Rs. 48,000 Crore Contract for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas handed over to HAL at the Inaugural Ceremony of Aero India 2021". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Jennings, Gareth (12 December 2012). "Indian Air Force receives back first upgraded MiG-29 fighters". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 50 (2). ISSN 2048-3430.
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "IAF MiG-29 fighter aircraft crashes near Jalandhar". The Hindu. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jennings, Gareth (6 August 2014). "Indian Air Force Jaguar lost on training sortie". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 51 (37). ISSN 2048-3430.
  15. ↑ "HAL, French firm Safran ink MoU for strategic cooperation on high-thrust aero-engines". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  16. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (26 August 2019). "No new engines for Jaguars, phase-out starts in 2023". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "New IAF chief looks beyond 36 additional Rafale jets, wants 114 multi role fighter aircraft". The Print. 5 October 2021.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781032012278.
  19. ↑ "Statement by Official Spokesperson on 27 February 2019". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  20. ↑ Singh, Rahul (10 September 2021). "DRDO to develop early warning jets for IAF under ₹11k cr plan". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 11 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ↑ "Modi govt okays 6 more 'eyes in the sky' for IAF, DRDO project to cost Rs 11,000 crore".
  22. ↑ Bedi, Rahul (30 November 2017). "IAF refuels its EMB-145 AEW&C aircraft in mid-air". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  24. ↑ Menon, Jay (23 April 2013). "RFP Coming Soon For Indian Airborne Jamming Aircraft". aviationweek.com. AWIN First.
  25. ↑ Mukherjee, Amit (29 September 2004). "IAF to get 5th IL-78 refueller soon – Times of India". The Times of India.
  26. ↑ "Purchase of Transport Aircraft". Press Information Bureau. 12 December 2011.
  27. ↑ "41 AN-32 aircraft require upgrade, process under way: Defence Ministry". 8 July 2019. There are 53 upgraded AN-32 aircraft in the fleet
  28. ↑ "Govt Seals Mega Deal with Airbus for Purchase of 56 C-295 Military Transport Aircraft". News18. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 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.
  30. ↑ "PM's new special aircraft, equipped with missile defence systems, lands in Delhi". Hindustan Times. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  31. ↑ "India's Air Force One takes off on first official flight". dna. PTI. 1 April 2009.
  32. ↑ "India gets first Embraer jet with Indian airborne radar tech". The Hindu Business Line. PTI. 17 August 2012.
  33. ↑ "Deliveries started, but HAL yet to get contract for LCH". Hindustan Times. 6 September 2021.
  34. ↑ "HAL set to deliver first batch of 3 Light Combat Helicopters to IAF". The Hindu. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  35. ↑ Aroor, Shiv. "Make Time For This Sweet Shoot Of India's RUDRA Armed Helo".
  36. ↑ Dutta, Amrita Nayak (4 October 2019). "IAF's heavy-lift Mi-26 choppers set to fly back to Russia for overhaul". ThePrint. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  37. ↑ "Indigenous light choppers get go-ahead, delivery in 2022".
  38. ↑ "Rs. 48,000 Crore Contract for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas handed over to HAL at the Inaugural Ceremony of Aero India 2021". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  39. ↑ "Production of indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas to start soon: HAL CMD". The Financial Express. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Bedi, Rahul (20 February 2013). "India signs up for more Heron UAVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 50 (12). ISSN 2048-3430.
  41. ↑ "Why Indian Army is eyeing a mini 'suicide drone' from Israel". The Week. 14 July 2020.
  42. ↑ "India Buys 4 Israeli Herons, to Upgrade Them With Missiles as Army, IAF, Navy Ramp Up Drone Inventory". News18.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Mallapur, Chaitanya (4 May 2015). "India tops list of drone-importing nations". IndiaSpend. Business Standard.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Bedi, Rahul (16 September 2015). "India to buy Heron TP UAVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 52 (44). ISSN 2048-3430.
  45. ↑ "Hindustan Aeronautics Limited delivers 'Lakshya-1' aircraft to Bharat Dynamics Limited". Indian Express. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  46. ↑ "Deliveries started, but HAL yet to get contract for LCH". Hindustan Times. 6 September 2021.
  47. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (11 July 2021). "HAL set to deliver first batch of 3 Light Combat Helicopters to IAF". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  48. ↑ 48.00 48.01 48.02 48.03 48.04 48.05 48.06 48.07 48.08 48.09 48.10 48.11 48.12 48.13 48.14 48.15 48.16 48.17 "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  49. ↑ https://www.army-technology.com/projects/hal-rudra-attack-helicopter-india/
  50. ↑ "Despite shortages, Army Aviation raises tempo in operations along LAC". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  51. ↑ "Army boosting combat fighting capabilities with major inductions of indigenous helicopters". 8 October 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019. 50 armed Rudra helicopters have already been inducted and 10 more will join the force by 2020.
  52. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (21 June 2021). "Army to get indigenous light helicopters by Dec. 2022". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  53. ↑ "India Buys 4 Israeli Herons, to Upgrade Them With Missiles as Army, IAF, Navy Ramp Up Drone Inventory". News18.
  54. ↑ Aroor, Shiv (13 January 2021). "Indian Army Hands Landmark $20-Mil Deal To Indian Drone-maker IdeaForge". Livefist.
  55. ↑ "First Look At Indian Army's New Cargo Drones For Ladakh". Livefist. 8 September 2021.
  56. ↑ "India places orders for drones, loitering munitions". The Times of India. 4 September 2021.
  57. ↑ "First Look At Indian Army's New Cargo Drones For Ladakh". Livefist. 8 September 2021.
  58. ↑ "India places orders for drones, loitering munitions". The Times of India. 4 September 2021.
  59. ↑ "Army to get 100+ 'sky strikers' for Balakot-type missions from Bangaluru". The Times of India. 3 September 2021.
  60. ↑ "US UAV, Israeli loitering bombs as Indian infantry gets lethal". Hindustan Times. 3 September 2021.
  61. ↑ "Army Orders 100 Swarm Drones From Indian Startup". Livefist. 3 September 2021.
  62. ↑ @Boeing_In (18 October 2021). "Another P-8I! Watch the indiannavy's 11th and latest P-8I take off to join the second largest #P8 fleet in the world" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  63. ↑ "Dorniers | INAS 550 – The Flying Fish". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  64. ↑ "Indian Navy receives first two of 24 MH-60R helicopters from US". India Today. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  65. ↑ Hiranandani, G. M. (2005). Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990. Lancer Publishers. p. 99. ISBN 9788170622666.
  66. ↑ "Indian Navy inducts two ALH MK III helicopters/". ANI News. 30 October 2021.
  67. ↑ "Indian Navy inducts three ALH MK III helicopters". Naval News. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  68. ↑ @ANI (16 November 2019). "A MiG-29K fighter aircraft crashed in Goa soon after it took off for a training mission. Both the pilots have managed to eject safely. The aircraft involved in the crash was a trainer version of the fighter jet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  69. ↑ "India Buys 4 Israeli Herons, to Upgrade Them With Missiles as Army, IAF, Navy Ramp Up Drone Inventory". News18.
  70. ↑ 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.
  71. ↑ "Hindustan Aeronautics Limited delivers 'Lakshya-1' aircraft to Bharat Dynamics Limited". Indian Express. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  72. ↑ (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2017). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781857439007.
  73. ↑ Purohit, Jugal (8 July 2016). "Indian Coast Guard to acquire 30 advanced copters soon". India Today.
  74. ↑ "Indian navy and coast guard order 32 Dhruv helicopters". Flightglobal.com. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  75. ↑ "Coast Guard adds teeth to its aviation arm by inducting ALH Mk-III". PIB. 12 June 2021.
  76. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard inducts 3 indigenously-built advanced light helicopters MK-III". Times Now. 16 August 2021.
  77. ↑ (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2017). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781857439007.
  78. ↑ "India formalizes acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft". airbus.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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