Indian Air Force

Other Air Forces
Bharatiya Vayu Sena
India
By Hans van HerkThe former British colony of India was divided into present-day India and Pakistan. India became an independent republic on 26th January 1950. It consists of 22 states and 9 union territories. A neutralist policy has been traditionally followed, although there have been several instances of military action, mostly against Pakistan, but also against the former Portuguese India (Goa) and against intruding forces on the Kashmir and Tibet borders. The President is the nominal Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, but control is exercised through the Minister of Defence.
Bharatiya Vayu Sena / Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is a young service. The oldest of its units is only 60 years old. Its birth in 1932 and its growth to date can be conveniently divided into four 15-year periods: 1932 - 1947 - 1962 - 1977 - 1992. By a coincidence these dates correspond to the major changes in the structure, composition and the capability of the Air Force. The 1990s started on a very unfortunate note for the Indian Air Force in particular. Economic difficulties along with the collapse of the Soviet Union severely affected expansion and modernisation plans, and various key programmes were pushed back by at least half a decade. Major problems with the availability of spares and support from the ex-USSR affected operations severely during 1991-1994, and serviceability rates declined heavily. Recovery started in the mid 1990s, when India learned from tense lessons. Much needed overhaul facilities were established and where possible, equipment and spares were saved through the widespread use of simulators. The average pilot flight hours are back to the standard 180-200 figure.The formulation in 1997 of India's first ever Air Power Doctrine (APD) provided the main map to modernisation and ensures that the Indian Air Force remains a viable deterrent against its principal potential adversaries.
Sponsored Links

The Indian Air Force has accepted that the increased costs of maintaining a modern and effective air force in the future would necessitate a reduction in quantitative levels. The MiG-21bis-UPG (or MiG-21 Bison as they are called by the IAF) upgrade programme is finally well underway. IAF's second-generation fighter types - the MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 - will see an intensive avionics upgrade as well as the ability for some of the MiG-29s being equipped for air refuelling. The multi-role capability and very high serviceability of the Mirage 2000 (close to 90%), has led the Indian Air Force placing an order for an additional ten aircraft to be delivered by 2004. The Sukhoi Su-30MK/MKI is the most important combat aircraft programme currently underway. The licence production of this combat aircraft is to start in 2004 and will be completed by 2017. The first Su-30MKs (eighteen aircraft in service with No. 24 Squadron) will be converted to the MKI configuration as soon as the 32 Su-30MKIs built in Russia have been delivered by 2003.As far as training is concerned the Indian Air Force finally agreed on the choice for the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) programme. The contract for a total of 66 Hawk Mk132 was officially signed in Delhi on March 26, 2004. The first Hawks can be found on the productionline at BAE Warton. The delivery schedule for the UK build Hawks will be between September 2007 and February 2008 whereas the locally build Hawks will be delivered between 2008 and 2010. In the meantime, the HJT-36 Sitara (Intermediate Jet Trainer) is under full-scale development and is expected to enter service in 2004 to replace the HJT-16 Kiran. The HQ of the Indian Air Force Command is located at Delhi and is commanded by the Chief of Air Staff. The Indian AF currently has five operational commands, each of which is under an AOC-in-C (Air Officer Commander-in-Chief) with the rank of Air Marshal. The IAF also has two additional commands - Training Command and Maintenance Command - to maintain a uniform standard in training and maintenance.
Western Air Command
With its headquarters located at Delhi -Palam AFS-, it is the most important of the five regional commands. It controls air operations north of Jaipur, including the capital and Punjab, from Kashmir south to Rajasthan. There is an Air Operations Group at the Udhampur AFS, formed in 1982, which is dedicated to the defence of Jammu & Kashmir and also includes Ladakh. There is a forward headquarters located near the Army's Western Command at Chandigarh. Western Air Command features mostly air defence squadrons and ground attack squadrons.
South Western Air Command
South Western Air Command (SWAC) was established in 1980 at Jodhpur. Headquarters are now located at Ghandinagar AFS (Gujarat). Previously the area currently covered by SWAC was under the operational control of the Western Air Command. SWAC controls air operations in the south western air sector, which includes most of Rajasthan, and south through Gujarat to Saurashtra, and Kutch to Pune. Because SWAC has no sensitive adjacent areas, its task has been largely air defence, however, it is now reported to have a strike mission.
Central Air Command
Headquarters of Central Air Command are located at Allahabad AFS (Uttar Pradesh). CAC controls air operations in all of central India, from Delhi to Bengal. This command was reduced in size with the establishment of the Southern Air Command. It is the main transport command with aircraft like the IAF's workhorse - the An-32 -, the long-range heavy lift IL-76MD and the Dornier Do-228 used in the utility role. CAC also has helicopter squadrons like the Mi-8 Hip & Mi-17 Hip and the heavy lift, Mi-26 Halo.
Eastern Air Command
Eastern Air Command controls air operations in the eastern sector, which includes West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram and the other eastern states bordering Bangladesh, Myanmar and Tibet. With its headquarters located at Shillong AFS (Meghalaya), it features -as with Western Air Command- mostly air defence squadrons and ground attack squadrons.
Southern Air Command
With its headquarters located at Trivandrum AFS (Kerala), it controls air operations in the southern sector which includes all the southern states, the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadeep. Some of the airbases located in the responsible area also have training and support units. SAC features no combat aircraft squadrons, but could do so in an emergency.
Training Command
Prospective military pilots come from three sources: the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the various universities. The NCC, which has facilities all over India, operates types as the Zenith CH-701. Students from the National Defence Academy, who are able to fly the eight HK-36TC Super Dimona motor gliders during their time at Pune, can go straight to the Air Force Academy. Other trainees have to undergo six months training at the IAF's Pre-Flying Training School at Begumpet, near Hyderabad. Although the headquarters of Training Command is located at Yelahanka AFB, Bangalore (Karnataka) most of the flying and ground training establishments are located in central and southern India.
Maintenance Command
With its headquarters located at Nagpur (Madhya Pradesh), it handles the repair, overhaul and maintenance of all aircraft, helicopters and other equipment. Official website of the IAF's Maintenance Command.
Sources; Bharat Rakshak, Military Technology and MilitAIR 1982.

Photo: Simon Watson Photo: Eddy de Kruijff
More
You can find more about the Indian Forces on these pages. On the Order of Battle page we show you where the main bases in India are. A country map of India is available. Click on an airbase to see what's there to be found. Also we present links to Expediamaps services: with each airbase you can find a link to a map of the airbases' neighbourhood. Also on the Scramble site: The database containing the Indian aircraft inventory. In this database you can search for aircraft serials and codes.It is also possible to send updates to us! And of course we present you some links to other Indian Aviation Pages.
Order of Battle
The Database
Links to Related Websites
Photo: Simon Watson Photo: Eddy de Kruijff
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 30, 2007.
Air Force Main Page




Air Force Orbat



Navy Main Page




Navy Orbat



Army Main Page




Army Orbat


Other Pages

-->