Su-30MKI
A large twin-engine, two-seat multi-role fighter that forms the backbone of the fighter force. Many were assembled in India.
Indian Air Force
Air Force aircraft and weapons
28 entries. Pick a group, then open an entry for its quick facts.
Photo: Aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Dylan Agbagni, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons Dassault Rafale
A French twin-engine multi-role fighter flown by the Indian Air Force. The first ones reached Ambala (Haryana) in July 2020.
Photo: Aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Mirage 2000 "Vajra"
A French single-engine fighter that proved its worth in the Kargil War and in the Balakot strike of 2019.
Photo: Aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons MiG-29 "Baaz"
A Russian air-superiority fighter, inducted in the 1980s and upgraded since.
Photo: SSgt Mathew Hannen, U.S. Air Force, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons SEPECAT Jaguar
A deep-penetration strike aircraft of British-French design, built in India under licence.
Photo: Rahuldevnath, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons HAL Tejas
India's own light combat aircraft, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and built by HAL.
Photo: Sanil Nath, CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons MiG-21 (retired)
A Soviet-origin fighter that served for more than sixty years, the first supersonic fighter of the IAF.
Photo: Colin Cooke Photo, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons C-17 Globemaster III
A very large strategic transport aircraft that can carry heavy vehicles and many soldiers over long distances.
Photo: Naman Vishwajeet, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons C-130J Super Hercules
A four-engine tactical transport aircraft that can land on short, rough runways. Used by special forces.
Photo: Indian Air Force, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons Ilyushin Il-76 "Gajraj"
A heavy Russian transport aircraft used for moving troops and equipment.
Photo: Damanbir, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons Antonov An-32 "Sutlej"
A medium transport aircraft that is useful in the mountains because it can take off from high airfields.
Photo: Government of India, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons C-295
A new medium transport aircraft that replaces the older Avro aircraft. Some are being built in India at Vadodara.
Photo: Indian Air Force, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons AH-64E Apache
One of the most advanced attack helicopters in the world, armed with guns, rockets and anti-tank missiles.
Photo: Indian Air Force, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons CH-47F(I) Chinook
A heavy-lift helicopter with two rotors, used to carry guns, vehicles and troops to places without roads.
Photo: Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons Mi-17 V5
A medium transport helicopter used for troop movement, supply drops and rescue, including in the mountains.
Photo: Government of India, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons LCH Prachand
India's own Light Combat Helicopter, built for fighting at high altitudes such as Siachen and Ladakh.
Photo: Mohit S from Mumbai, India, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons HAL Kiran
A jet trainer on which many pilots learnt to fly. It was built in India.
Photo: Government of India, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons BAE Hawk (Mk 132)
The advanced jet trainer on which fighter pilots finish their training. The "Surya Kiran" aerobatic team flies the Hawk.
Trainers Pilatus PC-7 Mk II
A propeller-driven trainer for the first stage of a cadet's flying training.
Photo: Government of India, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons HAL HTT-40
An Indian basic trainer aircraft being added to the Air Force.
Special mission A-50EI Phalcon AWACS
An Airborne Warning and Control System: a big radar dish on an aircraft that can see far over the horizon and guide fighters.
Photo: Ministry of Defence (India), Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons Netra AEW&C
An Indian airborne early warning and control aircraft developed by DRDO.
Photo: Indian Air Force, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons Il-78MKI tanker
An aircraft that refuels other aircraft in the air, so that fighters can fly farther.
Photo: Shanze1, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Astra missile
An Indian air-to-air missile for beyond-visual-range combat, developed by DRDO.
Photo: Boevaya mashina, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · Wikimedia Commons Meteor missile
A long-range air-to-air missile carried by the Rafale.
Photo: Ministry of Defence, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons BrahMos (air-launched)
The BrahMos cruise missile in a version that the Su-30MKI can carry.
Photo: Dmitriy Fomin from Moscow, Russia, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons S-400 Triumf
A long-range surface-to-air missile system from Russia that protects cities and air bases.
Photo: Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Government Open Data License – India · Wikimedia Commons Akash (Air Force)
The Indian medium-range surface-to-air missile system, also used by the Air Force to guard air bases and cities.