Indian Air Force Day 2021: Check List of Active Indian Military Aircraft

Indian Air Force (IAF) is celebrating its 89th anniversary on October 8, Friday. day will witness a scintillating air display by various aircraft including herit, modern and frontline fighter jets in a parade-cum-investiture ceremony at IAF's base in Hindan, Ghaziabad.  spellbinding aerobic display will commence with skydivers of Akash Ganga team dropping out of an AN-32 aircraft in colourful capies. It would be followed by performances by 47 Squadron deploying Mig-29 UPG aircraft, 116 Helicopter Unit with Advanced Light Helicopter Mark IV Rudra and 2255 Squadron Det Air Force.

On occasion of IAF's 89th anniversary, here is full list of active aircraft of Indian Air Force, as per World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft-- 

1. Aerospatiale Alouette III 
2. Antov An-32 (Cline) 
3. BAe Hawk
4. Beriev A-50
5. Boeing (Hughes) AH-64 Apache
6. Boeing 737 (Series)
7. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 
8. Boeing P-8 Poseidon
9. Dassault Mir 2000 
10. Dornier Do 228
11. HAL Dhruv 
12. HAL HJT-16 Kiran 
13. HAL LCH 
14. HAL Tejas LCA 
15. IAI Searcher
16. Ilyushin IL-76
17. Ilyushin IL-78 
18. Kamov Ka-226 Sergei
19. Lockheed Martin C-130 J Super Hercules
20. Mikoyan MiG-29 (Fulcrum) 
21. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG21 
22. Mil Mi-17 (Hip-H)
23. Mil Mi-26 (Halo) 
24. Mil Mi-35 (Hind-E) 
25. Mil Mi-8 (Hip)
26. SEPECAT Jaguar 
27. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)

List of aircraft in IAF's fighter jet fleet

Out of 27 active aircraft, here are leading jets that are a part of IAF's dynamic fighter fleet-

• MiG-21

MiG 21 is one of most kwn fighter jets across world and has served in over 60 countries in last six decades. Owing to increased number of accidents that fighter plane has witnessed in recent times, India is planning to gradually retire last of its MiG 21s over next 3-4 years. 

• Sukhoi Su-30MKI

Sukhoi Su-30MKI is one of  most advanced fighter jets in India's possession and is current backbone and frontline fighter of IAF. aircraft is used as  primary air-to-air and air-to-ground strike machine. 

• Mir-2000

Mir-2000, first commissioned in 1985, is one of most versatile and deadliest aircraft. In India, aircraft has been dubbed as 'Vajra' which refers to thunderbolt weapon wielded by God Indra. Mir 2000 aircraft played a crucial role in India's victory over iconic Tiger Hill during Kargil War. 

• HAL Tejas LCA

In 1980s, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) started Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme to replace ing Soviet-sourced MiG-21. In January 2021, Defence Ministry signed a Rs 48,00 cr deal with HAL to acquire 83 LCA-Tejas Mk1A aircrafts 

• SEPECAT Jaguar

SEPECAT Jaguar or 'Shamsher' is a fighter jet jointly developed by British Royal Air Force and French Air Force. Currently, it is only being used by Indian Air Force in an upgraded version and serves as its primary ground attack aircraft.

• MiG 29

MiG 29 was produced by Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in 1970s to counter US F-Series planes like F-15 and F-16. In India, MiG29 is kwn as 'Baaz' (Hawk) and forms second line of defence after Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

• Rafale

induction of French-made 4.5 generation Rafale aircraft is being witnessed as a gamechanger for India. twin-engine jets are capable of a diverse range of missions from ground and sea attacks to air defence and nuclear strike deterrence.
India had signed an agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.