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Indian Airforce

Indian Air Force
भारतीय वायु सेना
Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā
IAF Crest.svg
The Crest of the Indian Air Force
Founded 8 October 1932; 84 years ago (1932-10-08)
Country  India
Role Aerial warfare
Size 140,431 active personnel
Approx. 1,720+ aircraft
Part of Indian Armed Forces
Headquarters New Delhi
Motto(s) नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम् (Sanskrit)
IAST: Nabhaḥ Spr̥śaṁ Dīptam
(Touch the Sky with Glory)
Colour Navy blue, sky blue & white
            
Anniversaries Air Force Day: 8 October
Engagements
Website indianairforce.nic.in
Commanders
Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa
Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) Air Marshal Shirish Baban Deo
Notable
commanders
Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh
Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal
Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee
Insignia
Air Force Ensign Ensign of the Indian Air Force.svg
Roundel Roundel
Fin flash The IAF Fin Flash
Aircraft flown
Attack Jaguar, MiG-27, Harpy
Electronic
warfare
A-50E/I, DRDO AEW&CS
Fighter Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, HAL Tejas, MiG-21
Helicopter Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26, Mi-25/35, HAL Light Combat Helicopter, HAL Rudra
Reconnaissance Searcher II, Heron
Trainer Hawk Mk 132, HJT-16 Kiran, Pilatus C-7 Mk II
Transport C-17 Globemaster III, Il-76, An-32, HS 748, Do 228, Boeing 737, ERJ 135, C-130J
Tanker Il-78 MKI

The Indian Air Force (IAF; IAST: Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā) is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. It is the world's fourth largest air force in terms of both personnel and aircraft. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire and the prefix Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during World War II. After India became independent from the United Kingdom in 1947, the Royal Indian Air Force served the Dominion of India, with the prefix being dropped when India became a republic in 1950. Since independence, the IAF has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of China. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus and Operation Poomalai. Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The President of India serves as Supreme Commander of the IAF. The Chief of Air Staff, an Air Chief Marshal, is a four-star officer and commands the Air Force. There is never more than one serving ACM at any given time in the IAF. The rank of Marshal of the Air Force has been conferred once, to Arjan Singh, by the President of India on 26 January 2002 and he became the first five-star rank holding officer of IAF & serves as the ceremonial chief.


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Wikipedia

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