The Indian Air Force is the Air Arm of the Indian Air Force. It's primary compliment is to secure the Indian airspace from any threats to India. It was originally established in Oct 8 1932 as a support for the Royal air force named as Royal Indian air force, after independence the name royal was removed and renamed as Indian Air Force.
(FACTS: India is the world's Largest Arms importer)
Indian Fighter Aircrafts
1.Mig 21
It is one of the oldest fighter aircrafts india is using till now, it is a Supersonic fighter aircraft and an interceptor bought from Soviet Union (Russia). India is the largest operator of MIG-21 in the world and it is the First Supersonic Fighter Aircraft which was inducted into India Air Force, due to the deal of buying the Aircraft from several other competitors mig offerd a ToT(Transfer Of Technology) and manufaturing rights to india in india. Recently the MIG-21 had involved in an Aerial Dogfight with Pakistan Fighter jets and jet was successfully shot down Pakistan's F-16(One of the Advanced Multi-role Fighter jet opertaing in the world currently).
2.Mirage 2000
This Aircraft was bought from Dassault Aviation located in France. It is Single Engine Fourth Generation Multi-Role jet. India has a total of 50 Mirages including 8 Twin seat trainers. During Kargil war the Mirage 2000 has 2 Squadrons and it conducted around 540 strike missions and dropped around 55000 kg of payload.
3.Mig 29
This Aircraft was bought from Soviet Union(Russia) manufactured by Mikoyan. It is a Twin Engine Multi role and Air Superirity Fighter jet. India was the First International Customer of Mig 21 in the late 1980's and it ordered around 66 aircraft's initialy. Mig 21 along with Mirage 2000 fought in Kargil war around 1999. These Mig's were initialy have some modifications like better avionics,radar upgradation and turbofans. Later they also have a modification to equip R77 Russia's Air-to-Air Missile. In 2007 Russia gave Licesense to upgrade their fleet with modern technlogies like RD-33 Jet Engines, BVR(Beyond Visual Range) radar upgradation, Air-to-Ground Precission guided bombs, Air-to-Air Refuelling Technolgy which incraese the range of the Aircraft to 1430km and beyond.
In 2010 February India has inducted 29Mig29K which was inducted into Indian Navy for the Decommisioning of Harrier Aircrafts from Indian Navy.This was the Most Modernised MIG 29 fleet.Recently India has orderd 21 MIG29 Aircrafts for the need to upgrade the Squadrons.
4. Sukhoi 30MKI
This Aircraft is manufactured from HAL(Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) Liscenced by Sukhoi . It is a twin jet Multi role Air Superiority Fighter. It is India's Frontline Aircraft, and it's All weather and Long Range Capabilities makes this fighter a Lethal weapon against enemey aircrafts. This was developed from Su-30 aircraft. Around 2000-2019 India has more than 272 Aircrafts which were orderd at a period of time due to their requirments. At June 2020 india has orderd 12 SU-30MKI increasing the fleet to 284 jets.
This Aircraft is Equipped with Indigeneously developed Brahmos Missile and it is first to equip this kind. This Aircraft has a radar named X-Band and it scans around 30 aircrafts in Airborne and Locks upto 6 aircraft at a time.This jet has a Thrust Vectoring Nozzle and can perform Pugachev Cobra Manuvere makes impossible for enemey aircraft to win an Aerial Dogfight with Su-30MKI. Recently Su-30 MKI Squadron was Formed in South India,Thanjavur. This Squadron was named as Tigersharks and it is the major Airbase in South India.
5.HAL Tejas
This Aircraft is an Indian Made Fighter Aircraft and it is Single Engine, Fourth Generation Fighter aircraft, Multi-role aircraft. This Aircraft's First Squadron was in Sulur Air Force Base in South India's Coimbatore. This Aircraft has a naval version also. This was a Second aircraft developed by HAL. It has a Delta wing, advanced avionics like fly-by-wire, multi mode radar etc.
6.Dassault Rafael
This Aircraft is a French made 4+ generation Fighter aircraft. It is capable of Nuclear Deterance, air Superiority, Air-Ground, Anti-Ship, Ground support. It is also known as 'Omnirole' capable. Around 36 aircrafts have been planned, initially 5 Rafael was delivered to India in 27 July 2020. These Aircrafts were flown by IAF Pilot's and Landed in Ambala Airforce Station on 29 July 2020 other Aircrafts have planned to deliverd by 2021-2022.