List of active Indian military aircraft

List of active Indian military aircraft

The Indian Armed Forces consists of Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. These three arms and the Indian Coast Guard operate a combination of combat, reconnaissance, tanker, and transport aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI, assembled in India, forms the major inventory of the Indian combat aircraft. HAL Tejas, the indigenous fourth generation fighter aircraft, became part of the air force in 2015. Dassault Rafale is the latest entry into the air force, having been inducted in July 2020. Other combat aircraft include the Russian Mikoyan MiG-29, French Dassault Mirage, and British SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft. The armed forces operate a combination of various transport aircraft including tactical and strategic airlifters. Majority of this fleet is composed of the legacy Antonov An-32, Dornier 228, and Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft. In the 2010s, the air force inducted large American air-lifters such as Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130J into the fleet. In 2023, it started inducting Airbus C-295 transport aircraft to replace the older aircraft in its fleet.

The Indian helicopter fleet consists of the French Aérospatiale Alouette III and SA 315B Lama, which were license built in India. The Russian made Mil Mi-17 and Mi-24 forms the major complement of the helicopter fleet. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has designed and built various helicopters locally for the usage of armed forces such as the HAL Dhruv, Prachand, and Rudra. Since the late 2020s, India has inducted American made Boeing AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook into the fleet. The Indian fleet also consists of various other reconnaissance and trainer aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles which include both local and imported planes.

Air Force

List of active Indian military aircraft

Dassault Rafale

HAL Tejas

Sukhoi Su-30MKI

Dassault Mirage 2000I

Netra AEW&C on Embraer ERJ 145

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

Airbus C-295

Boeing AH-64 Apache

HAL Prachand

HAL LUH

HAL Kiran

The Indian Air Force was established in 1932. The air force operates about 90 air squadrons including 29 equipped with fighter aircraft. The air force maintains a fleet of combat, patrol, and Military transport aircraft, various helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles across more than 60 air bases in the country.

<table><thead><tr><th>Aircraft</th><th>Origin</th><th>Type</th><th>Variant</th><th>In service</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Combat</td></tr><tr><td>Dassault Mirage 2000</td><td>France</td><td>Multirole</td><td>Mirage 2000H/I</td><td>36</td><td>All aircraft being upgraded to 2000I variant</td></tr><tr><td>Dassault Rafale</td><td>Rafale EH</td><td>28</td><td>Single-seat version, 114 planned</td></tr><tr><td>Rafale DH</td><td>8</td><td>Two-seat version</td></tr><tr><td>HAL Tejas</td><td>India</td><td>Tejas Mk 1</td><td>30</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tejas Mk 1A</td><td>–</td><td>141 on order</td></tr><tr><td>Mikoyan MiG-29</td><td>Soviet Union</td><td>MiG-29B</td><td>40</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MiG-29UPG</td><td>12</td><td>Upgraded version of MiG-29B</td></tr><tr><td>MiG-29UB</td><td>7</td><td>Two-seat version</td></tr><tr><td>Sukhoi Su-30MKI</td><td>Russia / India</td><td>Su-30MKI</td><td>265</td><td>12 on order, 84 to be upgraded</td></tr><tr><td>SEPECAT Jaguar</td><td>United Kingdom / India</td><td>Attack</td><td>Jaguar-IM</td><td>8</td><td>Single-seat maritime strike version</td></tr><tr><td>Jaguar-IS</td><td>78</td><td>Single-seat ground attack version</td></tr><tr><td>Fighter trainers</td></tr><tr><td>Dassault Mirage 2000</td><td>France</td><td>Conversion trainer</td><td>Mirage 2000TH/TI</td><td>10</td><td>All aircraft being upgraded to 2000TI variant</td></tr><tr><td>HAL Tejas</td><td>India</td><td>Lead-in fighter trainer / conversion trainer</td><td>Tejas Mk 1 Trainer</td><td>6</td><td>10 on order</td></tr><tr><td>Tejas Mk 1A Trainer</td><td>–</td><td>29 on order</td></tr><tr><td>SEPECAT Jaguar</td><td>United Kingdom / India</td><td>Conversion trainer</td><td>Jaguar-IB</td><td>26</td><td>Two-seat training version</td></tr><tr><td>AEW&C</td></tr><tr><td>Beriev A-50</td><td>Soviet Union</td><td>AEW&C</td><td>A-50EI</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Embraer EMB-145-I</td><td>Brazil / India</td><td>Netra Mk1/Mk1A</td><td>3</td><td>6 planned</td></tr><tr><td>Airbus A321</td><td>Europe / India</td><td>Netra Mk2</td><td>–</td><td>6 ex-Air India aircraft, to be modified</td></tr><tr><td>Reconnaissance</td></tr><tr><td>Bombardier Global 5000</td><td>Canada / Israel</td><td>ELINT</td><td>Global 5000</td><td>2</td><td>Operated by Aviation Research Centre of R&AW</td></tr><tr><td>Boeing 707</td><td>United States</td><td>Reconnaissance</td><td>707-337C</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Boeing 737</td><td>737-700</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Gulfstream III</td><td>III SRA</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Gulfstream G100</td><td>Israel</td><td>1125 Astra</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Tanker</td></tr><tr><td>Airbus A330 MRTT</td><td>France</td><td>Tanker/transport</td><td>A330 MRTT</td><td>–</td><td>One to be wet leased from French Air Force, 6 planned</td></tr><tr><td>Boeing KC-135</td><td>United States</td><td>Tanker</td><td>KC-135R</td><td>1</td><td>Wet leased from Metrea</td></tr><tr><td>Ilyushin Il-78</td><td>Soviet Union</td><td>Il-78MKI</td><td>6</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Transport</td></tr><tr><td>Airbus A321</td><td>Europe</td><td>Transport</td><td>A321-200</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Boeing 777</td><td>United States</td><td>777-300ER</td><td>2</td><td>Used as Air India One</td></tr><tr><td>Embraer Legacy 600</td><td>Brazil</td><td>VIP transport</td><td>Legacy 6000</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Airbus C-295</td><td>Europe / India</td><td>Tactical airlifter</td><td>C-295W</td><td>16</td><td>40 on order</td></tr><tr><td>Antonov An-32</td><td>Soviet Union</td><td>An-32RE</td><td>55</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>An-32</td><td>47</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dornier 228</td><td>Germany / India</td><td>228-201</td><td>62</td><td>6 on order</td></tr><tr><td>Hawker Siddeley HS 748</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>HS 748</td><td>54</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lockheed Martin C-130J</td><td>United States</td><td>C-130J-30</td><td>12</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Boeing C-17</td><td>Strategic airlifter</td><td>C-17A</td><td>11</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ilyushin Il-76</td><td>Soviet Union</td><td>Il-76MD</td><td>17</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Helicopters</td></tr><tr><td>Aérospatiale Alouette III</td><td>France / India</td><td>Utility</td><td>Chetak</td><td>79</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cheetal</td><td>18</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Aérospatiale SA 315B</td><td>Cheetah</td><td>18</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HAL Dhruv</td><td>India</td><td>Dhruv Mk I/III</td><td>95</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HAL Light Utility Helicopter</td><td>LUH</td><td>–</td><td>6 on order</td></tr><tr><td>Boeing CH-47</td><td>United States</td><td>Transport</td><td>CH-47F</td><td>15</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mil Mi-17</td><td>Russia</td><td>Mi-17V-5</td><td>222</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Boeing AH-64</td><td>United States</td><td>Attack</td><td>AH-64E</td><td>22</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HAL Prachand</td><td>India</td><td>Prachand</td><td>10</td><td>66 on order</td></tr><tr><td>HAL Rudra</td><td>India</td><td>Rudra</td><td>16</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mil Mi-24</td><td>Russia</td><td>Mi-25/35P</td><td>15</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Trainer</td></tr><tr><td>BAE Hawk</td><td>United Kingdom / India</td><td>Advanced trainer</td><td>Hawk 132</td><td>83</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HAL Kiran</td><td>India</td><td>Intermediate trainer</td><td>HJT-16</td><td>79</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HAL HTT-40</td><td>Basic trainer</td><td>HTT-40</td><td>–</td><td>70 on order</td></tr><tr><td>Pilatus PC-7</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>PC-7 Mk II</td><td>74</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pipistrel Virus</td><td>Slovenia</td><td>Ab-initio trainer</td><td>Garud</td><td>72</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>UAV</td></tr><tr><td>IAI Heron</td><td>Israel</td><td>Surveillance</td><td>Heron Mk II</td><td>9</td><td>2 on order</td></tr><tr><td>IAI Searcher</td><td>Searcher Mk II</td><td>Few</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MQ-9 Reaper</td><td>United States</td><td>Combat / Surveillance</td><td>SkyGuardian</td><td>–</td><td>8 on order</td></tr></tbody></table>

Army Aviation Corps

List of active Indian military aircraft

HAL Dhruv

HAL Rudra

HAL Prachand

IAI Heron

The Army Aviation Corps was formed on 1 November 1986. It operates a series of helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France / India	Utility	Chetak	60	To be phased out by 2033.
Aérospatiale SA 315B	Cheetah	115
HAL Dhruv	India	Dhruv Mk I/II/III	78	25 on order
HAL Light Utility Helicopter	LUH	–	6 on order; 110 planned
Boeing AH-64	United States	Attack	AH-64E	6
HAL Prachand	India	Prachand	5	90 on order; 95 planned
HAL Rudra	Rudra	74
UAV
Asteria AT	India	Surveillance	AT-15	Unknown
DRDO Nishant	Nishant	13
IAI Heron	Israel	Heron Mk II	4
IAI Searcher	Searcher Mk I/II	12
IFT Switch	India	Switch 1.0	200	More on order
Johnnette JF	JF-2	Unknown
Newspace Beluga/Nimbus	Swarm	Beluga/Nimbus	100
Endure Sabal	Cargo	Sabal 20	Unknown
Raphe mPhibr MR	MR-20	48
Gati	Grenade launcher	Gati	–	20 on order
MQ-9 Reaper	United States	Combat / Surveillance	SkyGuardian	–	8 on order
Elbit Hermes 900	Israel / India	Surveillance	Drishti-10	1	1 on order

Naval Air Arm

List of active Indian military aircraft

MiG-29K operates from aircraft carriers

Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft armed with the AGM-84 Harpoon

Kamov Ka-31 naval helicopter

Sea King Mk 42B of the Indian Navy launches a NASM-SR

The air arm of the Indian Navy was established in 1948. The navy operates 26 air squadrons stationed across eight naval air stations that operate under the flag officers of the various naval commands. The air arm maintains a fleet of combat and maritime patrol aircraft, various helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat
Dassault Rafale	France	Multirole	Rafale M	–	26 (22 single-seat and four twin-seat) on order
Mikoyan MiG-29K	Russia	MiG-29K	34
MiG-29KUB	6	Two seater
Patrol / Utility
Boeing P-8	United States	ASW / Patrol	P-8I	12	6 planned
Britten-Norman BN-2	United Kingdom	Patrol / Utility	BN-2B/2T	4
Dornier 228	Germany / India	Patrol / Surveillance	228-201	31	Includes 4 upgraded, rest being upgraded. 8 more on order
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France / India	Utility	Chetak	42
HAL Dhruv	India	Dhruv Mk I/III	24
Kamov Ka-27	Russia	ASW	Ka-28	14
Westland Sea King	United Kingdom	WS-61 Mk 42B	25
Kamov Ka-31	Russia	AEW	Ka-31	14
Sikorsky SH-60	United States	Combat / Utility	MH-60R	20	4 on order
Trainer
BAE Hawk	United Kingdom / India	Jet trainer	Hawk 132	17
HAL Kiran	India	HJT-16	18
Pipistrel Virus	Slovenia	Ab-initio trainer	Garud	12
UAV
Elbit Hermes 900	Israel / India	Surveillance	Drishti-10	1	10 planned
IAI Heron	Israel	Heron Mk I	10
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper	United States	Combat / Surveillance	SeaGuardian	2	15 on order

Coast Guard

List of active Indian military aircraft

The Indian Coast Guard is a maritime armed force, which was formed in 1978. It is involved in the protection of the maritime and offshore assets, and protecting the oceanic boundaries. The coast guard operates various ships and aircraft including fixed wing reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters.

Dornier 228 of the Indian Coast Guard

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Patrol
Dornier 228	Germany / India	Patrol / Reconnaissance	228-101/201	41	2 upgraded in 2024, 2 inducted in 2026; 8 on order
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France / India	Utility	Chetak	19
HAL Dhruv	India	Dhruv Mk I	4
Dhruv Mk III	15	15 on order