I am planning to join the IAF (Indian Air Force) but before joining I want to know the Current Strength Of Indian Air Force. Can you please tell me the current strength of IAF or tell me list of active Indian military aircraft members available in IAF?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the airforces of the world.

Current strength:

The Indian Air Force has an effective strength of 31 combat squadrons, although it has 34 combat squadrons in total.

These include eleven squadrons of the Su-30MKI, three each of the MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 (currently undergoing an upgrade), six of the Jaguar (at the initial stage of an upgrade process) and six of the MiG-21Bison.

In addition, two upgraded MiG-27 squadrons continue to serve alongside the equivalent of half a squadron with the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE).

It is believed that three squadrons continue to operate older MiG-21s and non-upgraded MiG-27s – one each of the MiG-21bis, MiG-21M and MiG-27 - but these will be phased out in the near future, possibly by the end of 2017 or in early 2018.

List of Operational Commands

Central Air Command (CAC), headquartered at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
Eastern Air Command (EAC), headquartered at Shillong, Meghalaya
Southern Air Command (SAC), headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
South Western Air Command (SWAC), headquartered at Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Western Air Command (WAC), headquartered at New Delhi

Contact:

Officers Selection
Publicity Cell, Air Headquarters

DISHA
Motilal Nehru Marg
New Delhi - 110 106
Tel: 011 - 23010231 Ext. - 7350
011 - 23013690 (Direct)
Fax: 011-23017918

E-mail: career.iaf@nic.in (For AFCAT Related Queries )