This is an organized list of all of the active aircraft squadrons that currently exist in the Indian Air Force. Squadrons might have changed names and designations many times over the years, so they are listed by their current designation. Expeditionary and provisional units are not listed.
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Command | Date First Activated | Base | Aircraft | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 78 Squadron | Valarous Mars | Central Air Command | 16 December 2002 | Agra AFS, Uttar Pradesh | Il-78MKI | [81] |
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Command | Date First Activated | Base | Aircraft | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 50 Squadron | Adwitiya | Central Air Command | 1 October 2008 | Agra AFS, Uttar Pradesh | A-50 | [82] | |
No. 181 Flight | Hawks | Western Air Command | 5 August 1978 | Hindon AFS, Delhi | 737 SIGNIT 748-R | [83] | |
No. 200 Squadron | Netra | Western Air Command | 4 December 2014 | Bathinda AFS, Punjab | ERJ-145SM AEW&C | [84] |
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Command | Date First Activated | Base | Aircraft | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 52 Squadron | Sharks / Suryakiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) | Training Command | 1 January 1986 | Bidar AFS, Karnataka | Hawk | [85] | |
No. 151 Helicopter Unit | Sarangs | Southern Air Command | 1 June 1989 | Sulur AFS, Tamil Nadu | Dhruv | [86] |
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Command | Date First Activated | Base | Aircraft | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 3001 Squadron | Western Air Command | 27 November 2000 | Bathinda AFS, Punjab | [87] [80] | |||
No. 3002 Squadron | Cats Eyes | South Western Air Command | 3 December 2003 | Jaisalmer AFS, Rajasthan | [88] [80] | ||
No. 3003 Squadron | Trinetra | Western Air Command | 1 December 2003 | Jammu AFS, Jammu and Kashmir | [89] [80] | ||
No. 3004 Squadron | South Western Air Command | 4 December 2014 | Naliya AFS, Gujarat | [90] | |||
No. 3005 Squadron | Warden of the North | Western Air Command | 14 June 2005 | Awantipur AFS, Jammu and Kashmir | IAI Heron Mk 2 | [91] [92] |
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India's aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal. After India gained independence from United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of the Dominion of India. With the transition to a republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed.
Surya Kiran is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and is a part of the No. 52 Squadron of the Indian Air Force. The team is based at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka and has performed numerous demonstrations. The squadron was initially composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with BAE Hawk Mk.132 aircraft in 2015.
The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed on 6 February 2004 and with a plan to have around 2,000-personnel strength. The unit derives its name from Garuda, a Hindu deity.
The No. 3 Squadron IAF (Cobras) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates as a Close Air Support (CAS) and reconnaissance unit. Currently based at NAL Air Force Station, it falls under the Western Air Command, and forms the 46 wing of the IAF.
The Indian Naval Air Arm is the aviation branch and a fighting arm of the Indian Navy which is tasked to provide an aircraft carrier-based strike capability, fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare.
The HAL Prachand is an Indian multi-role light attack helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Project Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). It has been ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army's Aviation Corps (AAC). On 3 October 2022, the LCH was formally inducted into the IAF and was officially named "Prachand".
Jodhpur Airport is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. It is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and shares its airside with the Jodhpur Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force.
No. 4 Squadron IAF (Oorials) is a fighter squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) equipped with the Su-30 MKI, based at Jodhpur Air Force Station in Jodhpur in, Rajasthan, India. Since its establishment during the South-East Asian theatre of World War II, No. 4 Squadron remains the only fighter squadron other than No. 3 Squadron IAF and No. 7 Squadron IAF to remain continuously in existence in the service of India.
The DRDO Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) is a project of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation to develop an airborne early warning and control system for the Indian Air Force. It is also referred to as NETRA Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS).
Agra Airport, also known as Kheria Airport, is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The air force station is one of the largest airbases of the Indian Air Force. On 15 August 2017, the airbase celebrated its 70th anniversary.
Maintenance Command is a command of the Indian Air Force. It was raised as Maintenance Group at Chakeri in Kanpur in 1950. In 1955, it was designated as Maintenance Command. Its current headquarters is located at Vayusena Nagar in Nagpur (Maharashtra); it handles the repair, overhaul and maintenance of all aircraft, helicopters and other equipment. MC has about nine Base Repair Depots taking care of the overhaul and maintenance of various types of aircraft.
The Army Aviation Corps (AAC) is the youngest arm of the Indian Army, being formally designated on 1 November 1986. The Army Aviation Corps units are designated as Squadrons. Each squadron generally consists of two Flights. Reconnaissance (Recce) and Observation flights might be part of squadrons or operate independently. The latter do not have a parent squadron and are designated by an (I) in their name.
The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade outdated equipment since the late 1990s to meet modern standards. For that reason, it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 1980s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the air force.
No. 14 Squadron (Bulls), is a ground attack unit, operating out of AFS Ambala. The squadron currently operates SEPECAT Jaguar IS and IBs, operational since March 1981.
No. 26 Squadron IAF (Warriors) is the Ground Attack and Close Air Support unit of the Indian Air Force, operating from Pathankot Air Force Station under India's Western Air Command. The squadron was number plated on an unspecified date.
The Air Headquarters Communication Squadron (Pegasus)(AHQCS) of the Indian Air Force is based at Air Force Station Palam, New Delhi. It is a transport squadron which maintains a fleet of aircraft with the primary aim of providing air transport to the President, Vice President and Prime Minister of India, within and outside the country, and to visiting foreign heads of State, categorized as VVIPs.
No. 104 Helicopter Squadron is a fighter squadron and is equipped with Mil Mi-35 and based at Suratgarh Air Force Station.
No. 45 Squadron Indian Air Force is a Fighter Squadron internally based at Sulur AFS, Tamil Nadu. The squadron operates the indigenous HAL Tejas fighter from 1 July 2016. The squadron was initially based at Bangalore, Karnataka and later shifted to its main base in Sulur from 1 June 2018.
On 7 February 1968, an Antonov An-12 turboprop transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force piloted by Flight Lieutenant Harkewal Singh and Squadron Leader Pran Nath Malhotra, disappeared while flying to Leh Airport from Chandigarh. Flight 203 was on approach to Leh when the pilot decided to turn back due to inclement weather, the aircraft then went missing with the last radio contact over the Rohtang Pass. It was declared missing after the failure to find the wreck.