1982, the Golden 1982, the Golden Jubilee of the Indian Air Jubilee of the Indian Air force saw the inception force saw the inception of nine Hunter aircraft of nine Hunter aircraft performing feats in the performing feats in the air. Led by Wg Cdr PS air. Led by Wg Cdr PS Brar, they called Brar, they called themselves the themselves the ‘Thunderbolts’ ‘Thunderbolts’

chhu ne aasmaan.wmv

MarshalMarshal

Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal

Air Marshal Air Marshal

Air Vice Marshal Air Vice Marshal

Air Commodore Air Commodore

Group Captain Group Captain

Flying Officer Flying Officer

Pilot Officer Pilot Officer

Unmanned aerial vehiclesThe primary role of

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is to provide aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. However, DRDO,

ADA and HAL are developing a range of

Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles. The IAF currently operates IAI Malat-built Searcher MkII and Heron

UAVs.

Unmanned aerial vehiclesThe primary role of

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is to provide aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. However, DRDO,

ADA and HAL are developing a range of

Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles. The IAF currently operates IAI Malat-built Searcher MkII and Heron

UAVs.

                         Aerobatics by Sarang helicopter formation display team.An important objective of the IAF is to support ground troops by providing air-cover and by transporting men and essential commodities across the battlefield.

                         Aerobatics by Sarang helicopter formation display team.An important objective of the IAF is to support ground troops by providing air-cover and by transporting men and essential commodities across the battlefield.

                                               

The aircraft is equipped with an information and fire control radar system comprising: an airborne radar N-019 developed by Phazotron Research and Production Company, Moscow; an optical locator comprising an infra-red search and track sensor, a laser rangefinder and a helmet mounted target designator. 

The aircraft is equipped with an information and fire control radar system comprising: an airborne radar N-019 developed by Phazotron Research and Production Company, Moscow; an optical locator comprising an infra-red search and track sensor, a laser rangefinder and a helmet mounted target designator. 

Mirage 2000 has an upgraded digital Weapon Delivery and Navigation System, WDNS, which has capacity for further integration of new sensors and weapon systems.. 

Mirage 2000 has an upgraded digital Weapon Delivery and Navigation System, WDNS, which has capacity for further integration of new sensors and weapon systems.. 

The aircraft is equipped with a 30 mm gun and a range of missiles, rockets, and bombs mounted externally on ten hardpoints. The aircraft's infra-red search and track system, laser rangefinder, radar, and helmet mounted target designator provide detection, tracking, and attack capability.

The aircraft is equipped with a 30 mm gun and a range of missiles, rockets, and bombs mounted externally on ten hardpoints. The aircraft's infra-red search and track system, laser rangefinder, radar, and helmet mounted target designator provide detection, tracking, and attack capability.

The Su-27SK is equipped with a coherent The Su-27SK is equipped with a coherent pulse Doppler radar, Phazotron N001 Zhuk, pulse Doppler radar, Phazotron N001 Zhuk, with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-down capability. The range of the radar down capability. The range of the radar against targets size 3 square metres is over against targets size 3 square metres is over 100 km in the forward hemisphere and 40 100 km in the forward hemisphere and 40 kilometres in the rear hemisphere. kilometres in the rear hemisphere.

The Su-27SK is equipped with a coherent The Su-27SK is equipped with a coherent pulse Doppler radar, Phazotron N001 Zhuk, pulse Doppler radar, Phazotron N001 Zhuk, with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-down capability. The range of the radar down capability. The range of the radar against targets size 3 square metres is over against targets size 3 square metres is over 100 km in the forward hemisphere and 40 100 km in the forward hemisphere and 40 kilometres in the rear hemisphere. kilometres in the rear hemisphere.

The MiG-29 is produced by the Moscow Aircraft Production Organization MiG (MAPO MiG) based in Moscow. The MiG-29,-30 and -33 are known by the NATO code name Fulcrum

The MiG-29 is produced by the Moscow Aircraft Production Organization MiG (MAPO MiG) based in Moscow. The MiG-29,-30 and -33 are known by the NATO code name Fulcrum

The Indian Air Force has a strength of 1430 combat aircraft.

Most of the IAF's fighter jets are of French, Soviet/Russian and British

origin, with designs by the latter two countries being constructed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

under licence. The indigenously-built HAL Tejas (formerly Light Combat Aircraft) is expected to

enter service by 2010.

The Indian Air Force has a strength of 1430 combat aircraft.

Most of the IAF's fighter jets are of French, Soviet/Russian and British

origin, with designs by the latter two countries being constructed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

under licence. The indigenously-built HAL Tejas (formerly Light Combat Aircraft) is expected to

enter service by 2010.

Air superiority aircraftThe Sukhoi Su-30MKI (MKI: 'Multifunctional Commercial - Indian') is the IAF's prime air superiority fighter. The Su-30K variant was first acquired in 1996. In October 2004,

Air superiority aircraftThe Sukhoi Su-30MKI (MKI: 'Multifunctional Commercial - Indian') is the IAF's prime air superiority fighter. The Su-30K variant was first acquired in 1996. In October 2004,

Multi-role combat aircraft

These are aircraft for strike, offensive

support, air defence and superiority

purposes. The IAF currently possesses

several multi-role fighter jets that perform these

functions.

Multi-role combat aircraft

These are aircraft for strike, offensive

support, air defence and superiority

purposes. The IAF currently possesses

several multi-role fighter jets that perform these

functions.

Strike, attack and offensive

support aircraftSquadrons of Jaguar IS and MiG-27 aircraft

serve as the IAF's primary ground strike

force.

Strike, attack and offensive

support aircraftSquadrons of Jaguar IS and MiG-27 aircraft

serve as the IAF's primary ground strike

force.

Reconnaissance aircraftVarious unmanned aircraft are used for

reconnaissance. The IAF used to operate a fleet of MiG-25 (Foxbat) R, U reconnaissance aircraft until 2006. The high-speed interceptor aircraft carried

four R-40 (AA-6 'Acrid') air-to-air missiles, two R-23 (AA-7 'Apex') and four

R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') or R-73 (AA-11 'Archer'). The MiG-25, in service since the late 1980s, were

decommissioned from service in 2006.

Reconnaissance aircraftVarious unmanned aircraft are used for

reconnaissance. The IAF used to operate a fleet of MiG-25 (Foxbat) R, U reconnaissance aircraft until 2006. The high-speed interceptor aircraft carried

four R-40 (AA-6 'Acrid') air-to-air missiles, two R-23 (AA-7 'Apex') and four

R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') or R-73 (AA-11 'Archer'). The MiG-25, in service since the late 1980s, were

decommissioned from service in 2006.

Unmanned aerial vehicles

The primary role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

(UAVs) is to provide aerial

surveillance and reconnaissance. However, DRDO, ADA and HAL are

developing a range of

Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles

.

Unmanned aerial vehicles

The primary role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

(UAVs) is to provide aerial

surveillance and reconnaissance. However, DRDO, ADA and HAL are

developing a range of

Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles

.

The Indian Air Force currently operates around 300 MiG-21 aircraft.The IAF initially planned to replace the MiG-21 fleet with indigenously-built HAL Tejas aircraft by 2006. However, the target could not be met due to developmental delays and a U.S. sanction, following the Pokhran tests, which blocked the delivery of GE F404 engines- a crucial component of the aircraft.

The Indian Air Force currently operates around 300 MiG-21 aircraft.The IAF initially planned to replace the MiG-21 fleet with indigenously-built HAL Tejas aircraft by 2006. However, the target could not be met due to developmental delays and a U.S. sanction, following the Pokhran tests, which blocked the delivery of GE F404 engines- a crucial component of the aircraft.

Tejas in formation flight.The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 250 MiG-21 aircraft. Due to its aging equipment, several MiG-21s used in training roles have crashed over the past six years, killing over 50 IAF pilots. Also, they are nearing the end of their service life having been in the IAF for many decades and are being decommissioned at an increasing pace.

Tejas in formation flight.The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 250 MiG-21 aircraft. Due to its aging equipment, several MiG-21s used in training roles have crashed over the past six years, killing over 50 IAF pilots. Also, they are nearing the end of their service life having been in the IAF for many decades and are being decommissioned at an increasing pace.

The IAF will also buy 220 indigenously-built HAL Tejas light combat aircraft. It has already ordered a total of 28 Tejas aircraft. These aircraft are expected to enter service beginning in 2009. The HAL HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer carried out its maiden test flight in 2003 and is all set to enter service within the next 5 years.

The IAF will also buy 220 indigenously-built HAL Tejas light combat aircraft. It has already ordered a total of 28 Tejas aircraft. These aircraft are expected to enter service beginning in 2009. The HAL HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer carried out its maiden test flight in 2003 and is all set to enter service within the next 5 years.

Air to Air MissilesVympel R-60 (AA-8 Aphid)

Matra Magic 2 Matra Super 530

Vympel R-27 (AA-10 Alamos) Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) Vympel R-77 (AA-12 Adder)

DRDO Astra- Under development

Air to Air MissilesVympel R-60 (AA-8 Aphid)

Matra Magic 2 Matra Super 530

Vympel R-27 (AA-10 Alamos) Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) Vympel R-77 (AA-12 Adder)

DRDO Astra- Under development

Air to Surface MissilesZvezda-Strela Kh-25 (AS-10 Karen)

Aerospatiale AS-30L Hawker-Matra Martel Missile

Kolomna Machine Design Bureau 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) Molniya Design Bureau Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge)

Zveda Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton) BAe Sea Eagle

Raduga Kh-59M (AS-18 Kazoo) DRDO- NPO Mashinostroeyenia Brahmos- Air launched version

Air to Surface MissilesZvezda-Strela Kh-25 (AS-10 Karen)

Aerospatiale AS-30L Hawker-Matra Martel Missile

Kolomna Machine Design Bureau 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) Molniya Design Bureau Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge)

Zveda Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton) BAe Sea Eagle

Raduga Kh-59M (AS-18 Kazoo) DRDO- NPO Mashinostroeyenia Brahmos- Air launched version

Aakash KatwaliaAakash KatwaliaAshu MishraAshu Mishra

Lakshay DangLakshay Dang