List of active Indian military aircraft

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following list of active Indian military aircraft is a list of military aircraft currently in
service with the Indian Armed Forces. For a list of historical aircraft used by the Indian Military,
see list of historical aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

Contents
 1 Indian Air Force
 2 Indian Naval Air Arm
 3 Army Aviation Corps
 4 Indian Coast Guard
 5 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
 6 See also
 7 Notes
 8 References
 9 External links

Indian Air Force

Further information: Indian Air Force
Aircraft Origin Role Version Number[1] Comment
Fighter aircraft (615)
Total of 272 on order (to
Multirole air be delivered by 2018-
Sukhoi Su- Russia
superiority Su-30MKI 242[2] 2019).[3] All aircraft to be
30MKI India
fighter upgraded to Super Sukhoi
standards.
1 delivered with 119 more
on order. 8 limited series
technology demonstraters
and testing aircraft
built.[4][5] A total of 294
Mk.I Mk.IA and Mk.II aircraft
Multirole
HAL Tejas India 1 may be ordered to equip
fighter
Trainer 14 squadrons replacing the
MiG-21 and MiG-27.[6]
The first aircraft entered
service on 17 January
2015, with FOC expected
in 2016 and first full
 squadron operational by
2017-2018.[7]
Being upgraded to MiG-
MiG-29
59[1] 29UPG standard, the first
Mikoyan Air superiority (9.12B)
USSR six were upgraded in
MiG-29 fighter
10[8] Russia. Remaining aircraft
MiG-29UPG
to be upgraded by HAL.[9]
M2000H 39[1]
Being upgraded. To
Dassault Multirole
France M2000TH 9[1] remain operational until
Mirage 2000 fighter
2040.[3]
M2000I/TI 2[10]
MiG-21MF ("Type 88")
and one squadron of
upgraded MiG-21 Bisons
Mikoyan- MiG21Bison
USSR to be retired in 2017.[11] [12]
Gurevich Fighter aircraft 245[1]
India Remaining 132 aircraft to
MiG-21 MiG21MF
be phased out by 2022 or
2025.[3][13] To be replaced
by the HAL Tejas.
Ground-attack aircraft (230)
Service-life upgrades to be
M/S 115[1]
SEPECAT UK Ground-attack completed by 2020.[3] Also
Jaguar India aircraft operated in a naval strike
T 30[1][14]
role.[15]
All non-upgraded aircraft
to be retired by March
MiG-27 Ground-attack 2016, with remaining
USSR MiG-27ML 85[1]
Bahadur aircraft aircraft to be retired by
2018. To be replaced by
HAL Tejas.[3][16]
Transport aircraft (242)
Total 10 ordered with
option for 6 more. Ordered
only 3 later with delays in
C-17 Strategic clearing funds for further
USA C-17 10[1]
Globemaster transport 3. When funds were
cleared, Boeing had only 1
more on its production
line.[17]
Ilyushin Il- Strategic
USSR Il-76MD 17[1]
76 Candid transport
C-130J Tactical C-130J- 7 more on order.[1] This is
USA 5[1]
Super transport 30SH inclusive of 1 additional
Hercules aircraft ordered in August
2014 to replace the loss of
a crashed C-130J.[18]
Hawker To be replaced with 56
UK Tactical
Siddeley HS HS 748-100 59[1] EADS CASA C-295
India transport
748 aircraft.[19]
All to be upgraded to An-
32RE standard by 2016 (60
An-32 60[1]
Antonov An- Tactical to be upgraded locally and
USSR
32 Cline transport 40 upgraded in Ukraine).
An-32RE 40[20]
To be eventually replaced
by UAC/HAL Il-214.[21]
Dornier Do Germany 14 more ordered in
Utility transport Do 228-201 40[1]
228 India February 2015.[22]
737-200
1
ADV [23]
Boeing 737 USA VIP transport
3
737-700
ERJ 135 4
Embraer
Brazil VIP transport
135,145
145 4
Special-mission aircraft (19)
Ilyushin Il- Russia[Note
1] Aerial refueling IL-78MKI 7[1]
78 MKI
Beriev A-50 Russia[Note
2] AEW&C A-50E/I 3[1] 2 more on order.[1]
Phalcon
Embraer 2 currently undergoing
ERJ-145 Brazil[Note 3] AEW&C 2 testing by DRDO and IAF.
AEWCS 1 more to be delivered.[24]
Operated by the R&AW,
Gulfstream Electronic-
USA IV SRA-4 3[1] India's external intelligence
III warfare aircraft
agency.
Operated by the R&AW,
Bombardier Canada[Note Reconnaissance
4] Global 5000 2[25] India's external intelligence
5000 aircraft
agency.
Reconnaissance
IAI Astra Israel G100 Astra 2[1]
aircraft
Trainer aircraft (230)
15 more to be delivered.[26]
UK Deliveries expected to be
BAE Hawk Trainer aircraft Hawk 132 90 [26][27]
India complete by the end of
2016.[28]
HAL HJT-16 India Trainer aircraft HJT-16 81[1] To be phased out by 2017
Kiran and eventually be replaced
HJT-16II by BAE Hawk (20 Hawks
currently on order).[26][29]
All aircraft delivered by
November 2015.[30] A
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland Trainer aircraft Mk II 75
further 106 may be
ordered.[31]
Helicopters (467+)
Few donated to
Afghanistan Armed
Mil Mi-35 Attack
USSR Mi-35 20[1] Forces. To be eventually
Hind-E helicopter
replaced by Boeing AH-
64E Apache.[32]
Attack
HAL Rudra India ALH-WSI 7 Total of 38 on order.
helicopter
HAL Light
Attack 65 on order.[1] 3 prototypes
Combat India LCH 3
helicopter delivered.[33]
Helicopter
Will be complemented by
Mil Mi-26 Transport [1]
USSR Mi-26 3 Boeing CH-47 Chinook of
Halo helicopter
which 15 are ordered.
Mi-8
34 more Mi-17V5s to be
Mil Mi-8
Transport delivered.[1] Additional 48
USSR Mi-17 300+[34]
helicopter Mi-17V5s may be
Mi-17
ordered.[35]
Mi-17V5
Utility
HAL Dhruv India Dhruv 46[1] 65 more on order.[1]
helicopter
HAL Utility
India Cheetal 14[1]
Cheetah helicopter
SA316B
Utility
HAL Chetak India 74[1]
helicopter
SA319

Indian Naval Air Arm

Further information: Indian Naval Air Arm and List of Indian naval aircraft
Aircraft Origin Role Version Number[1] Comment
Fighter aircraft (39)
MiG-29K
Mikoyan Multirole
Russia 39[36] 12 more on order.[36]
MiG-29K fighter MiG-
29KUB
 Ground-attack aircraft (11)
Strike FRS51 8[1]
BAE Sea [Note 5] would retire from service, once
UK aircraft
Harrier INS Viraat is decommissioned.[37]
(V/STOL) T4 3[1]
Maritime patrol aircraft (21)
Maritime
Boeing P-8 P-8I 4 more to be delivered.[1] Possibly
USA patrol 8[1]
Poseidon Neptune up to 12 more to be ordered.[1]
aircraft
Maritime
Tupolev Tu-
USSR patrol Tu-142M 8[1] Being modernised in Russia.[38]
142
aircraft
Maritime All five Sea Dragon variants are
Ilyushin Il- [1]
USSR patrol Il-38SD 5 being overhauled, and will include a
38
aircraft further minor upgrade.[39]
Utility aircraft (33)
Do 228-
101
Dornier Do Germany Utility
25[1]
228 India aircraft
Do 228-
201
Britten-
Utility
Norman UK BN-2 8[1]
aircraft
Islander
Trainer aircraft (37)
Trainer
BAE Hawk UK Hawk 132 17[26] 6 more to be delivered.[26]
aircraft
HAL HJT- Trainer To be replaced by the new HAL
India 20[1]
16 Kiran aircraft HJT-36 Sitara.
Helicopters (101)
Airborne
Kamov Ka-
Russia early 14[1]
31 Helix-B
warning
Kamov Ka- Anti-
Ka-27PL
28 (Helix- Russia submarine 14[1]
(Helix-A)
A) warfare
Anti-
submarine
Mk42B 22[1]
Westland warfare
UK
Sea King
Mk42C 5[1]
Transport
helicopter
Sikorsky Transport
USA UH-3H 6[1]
SH-3 Sea helicopter
King
Utility
HAL Dhruv India 8[1] 16 more on order.[1]
helicopter
SA316B
HAL Utility
India 30[1]
Chetak helicopter
SA319

Army Aviation Corps

Further information: Army Aviation Corps (India)
Aircraft Origin Role Version Number[1] Comment
Helicopters (136)
Attack ALH-
HAL Rudra India 20 40 more on order.[40]
helicopter WSI
HAL Light Combat Attack
India LCH 114 on order.[1]
Helicopter helicopter
Utility
HAL Dhruv India 73[1] Total of 151 on order.[1]
helicopter
Utility
helicopter
Cheetah 23[1]
HAL Cheetah, Utility
India Cheetal 4[1]
Cheetal & Lancer helicopter
Lancer 12
Counter-
insurgency
HAL Chetak & Utility Being withdrawn from service
India Chetak 4[1]
Chetan helicopter and replaced by HAL Dhruv.

Indian Coast Guard

Further information: Indian Coast Guard
Aircraft Origin Role Version Number Comment
Fixed-wing aircraft (38)
Dornier Do India Maritime Do 228-
38
228 Germany surveillance 101
Helicopters (22)
16 more ordered in July
HAL Dhruv India Utility helicopter 4[41]
2014.[41]
HAL Chetak India Utility helicopter Chetak 18
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Note: The Indian Armed Forces operate a number of Unmanned aerial vehicles split between the
three service branches.

Aircraft Origin RoleVersion Number Comment

UAVs
A small UCAV that homes into enemy radar
IAI Harpy Israel UCAV 5+ emissions - destroying both itself and the enemy
radar. In service with Indian Air Force.
A small UCAV that homes into enemy radar
IAI Harop Israel UCAV 10 emissions - destroying both itself and the enemy
radar. In service with Indian Air Force.
Heron I In service with Indian Air Force and Indian
IAI Heron Israel UAV 50+
Heron II Navy. 15 more ordered in December 2013.
Searcher
IAI II
Israel UAV 100+ In service with the Indian Army.
Searcher Searcher
I
DRDO
India UAV 12+ In service with the Indian Army.
Nishant
DRDO Target A small target drone in service with the Indian
India 39
Lakshya drone Air Force and Indian Navy.[42]

See also
 List of historical aircraft of the Indian Air Force
 List of Indian naval aircraft
 Currently active military equipment by country
 Military of India
 Indian Air Force
 Indian Naval Air Arm
 Future of the Indian Air Force
 Border Security Force - who operate their own fleet of aircraft for security purposes