Air Force Day 2017 Timeline of India fighter jets

The Indian Air Force is celebrating its 85th anniversary on October 8 with Air Force Day Parade cum Investiture Ceremony at Air Force Station Hindan (Ghaziabad). The history of this prestigious day dates back to 1932 when Indian Air Force was officially established with a mission to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. The Indian Air Force has played a crucial and sacrificial role in safeguarding the nation. It has served the nation during war with Pakistan on four occasions and with China once in 1962. On this day we salute the Indian Air Force for their service to guarding the nation and look into the timeline of fighter planes that have been used to achieve this objective.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft provided to India by Russia to counter Chinese and Pakistani threats. In 1964, the MIG 21 became the first supersonic jet to enter service with the IAF. During the Bangladesh war MiG-21s played a crucial role in giving the IAF air superiority over vital points. It was also used in 1999 in the Kargil War. Because of the formidable performance of the MiG-21s, several nations, including Iraq, approached India for MiG-21 pilot training. India uses MiG-21 Bison which is an upgraded model with new radar. As far as design is considered t offers better speed than MiG-21 its predecessor, MiG-19. the Fishbed’s main design difference is its triangular delta wings (as opposed to the swept wings on the MiG-19). Its primary improvements were its speed, better design, and greater capacity for armament. The MiG-21 is relatively simple in design and technology. The MiG-21 could carry a fair amount of armament. Located to the left of the cockpit, the twin-barreled GSh-23 23 millimeter cannon was standard with 420 rounds carried. Optional were a variety of guided air-to-air missiles (the K-13, K-13M, and R-60, for later models) and unguided bombs or rockets. A total of 2 000 kilograms of ordinance could be carried.

Mikoyan MIG 29 The Mikoyan MIG 29 was designed by Soviet Union and it is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft. MIG 29 was inducted into IAF in 1985. The IAF used MiG-29 extensively during the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir to provide fighter escort for Mirage 2000 that were attacking targets with laser-guided bombs. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and radars. The MiG-29 was developed for dual air superiority and ground-attack roles. Fighter regiments were also tasked with tactical nuclear strike with 30-kT RN-40 bombs. The basic MiG-29 has proved itself as a formidable close-in dogfighter. The pilot has a helmet-mounted sight to cue missiles onto an off-boresight target.

Mirage 2000 The Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation. It was designed in the late 1970s as a lightweight fighter to replace the Mirage III for the French Air Force. IAF became the first foreign user of the type in 1985. In 1999, when the Kargil War broke out, the Mirage 2000 performed remarkably well during the whole conflict in the high Himalayas, even though the Mirages supplied to India had limited air interdiction capability and had to be heavily modified to drop laser-guided bombs as well as conventional unguided bombs. Armed with Paveway LGBs, the aircraft were involved in the destruction of enemy command bunkers. During Operation Safed Sagar from June–July 1999, two Mirage squadrons flew a total of 514 sorties.

Sukhoi Su-30MKI The Sukhoi Su-30MKI developed by Russia is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter. It is built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for IAF. A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter. The first Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was accepted into the Indian Air Force in 2002, while the first indigenously assembled Su-30MKI entered service with the IAF in 2004. Additional MKIs have been ordered to increase the total from 272 to 314. The IAF had 230 Su-30MKIs in service as of February 2017. The Su-30MKI is expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet to 2020 and beyond.

HAL Tejas The Tejas is an Indian single-seat, single-jet engine, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for IAF and Navy. The aircraft has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration, which provides for high maneuverability. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. LCA was officially named "Tejas" in 2003, meaning "Radiant" in Sanskrit by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The HAL Tejas multi-role fighter can carry a wide range of weapons. The Aircraft is fitted with eight under-wing and under-fuselage hardpoints. Maximum capacity is over 4 000 kg of external ordnance and fuel. It can carry Astra, R-77 (AA-12 Adder) beyond visual range and R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles. Air-to-surface missiles include the Kh-59 with TV or laser guidance, Kh-35 or Kh-31 anti-ship missiles. Aircraft can also carry various bombs, including cluster or precision-guided. It is fitted with a single twin-barrel 23-mm cannon.

The SEPECAT Jaguar The SEPECAT Jaguar is a British-French jet attack aircraft originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Air Force in the close air support and nuclear strike role. It is still in service with the Indian Air Force. Originally conceived in the 1960s as a jet trainer with a light ground attack capability, the requirement for the aircraft soon changed to include supersonic performance, reconnaissance and tactical nuclear strike roles. Indian Jaguars were used to carry out reconnaissance missions in support of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990. They later played an active role in the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, dropping both unguided and laser-guided bombs, the IAF defining its role as a "deep penetrating strike aircraft". The Jaguar is also used in small numbers for the anti-ship role, equipped with the Sea Eagle missile. The Jaguar remains an important element of the Indian military as, along with the Mirage 2000, the Jaguar has been described as one of the few aircraft capable of performing the nuclear strike role with reasonable chances of success.

The Dassault Rafale The Dassault Rafale is developed by France and is a twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation. It is equipped with a wide range of weapons and is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions. The Rafale is referred to as an "omnirole" aircraft by Dassault. On 31 January 2012, the IAF announced the Rafale as the preferred bidder. It was proposed that 18 Rafales would be supplied to the IAF by 2015 in fly-away condition, while the remaining 108 would be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India under transfer of technology agreements. On 23 September 2016, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the contract for the purchase of 36 off-the-shelf Rafales in a deal worth €7.8 billion with an option for 18 more at the same inflation-adjusted price. The first Rafales are expected to be delivered by 2019, and India is set to have all 36 jets within six years. The deal includes weapons and spares; the aircraft will be equipped with Meteor BVRAAM missiles.

The Indian Air Force is celebrating its 85th anniversary on October 8 with Air Force Day Parade cum Investiture Ceremony at Air Force Station Hindan (Ghaziabad). The history of this prestigious day dates back to 1932 when Indian Air Force was officially established with a mission to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. The Indian Air Force has played a crucial and sacrificial role in safeguarding the nation. It has served the nation during war with Pakistan on four occasions and with China once in 1962. On this day we salute the Indian Air Force for their service to guarding the nation and look into the timeline of fighter planes that have been used to achieve this objective.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft provided to India by Russia to counter Chinese and Pakistani threats. In 1964, the MIG 21 became the first supersonic jet to enter service with the IAF. During the Bangladesh war MiG-21s played a crucial role in giving the IAF air superiority over vital points. It was also used in 1999 in the Kargil War. Because of the formidable performance of the MiG-21s, several nations, including Iraq, approached India for MiG-21 pilot training. India uses MiG-21 Bison which is an upgraded model with new radar. As far as design is considered t offers better speed than MiG-21 its predecessor, MiG-19. the Fishbed’s main design difference is its triangular delta wings (as opposed to the swept wings on the MiG-19). Its primary improvements were its speed, better design, and greater capacity for armament. The MiG-21 is relatively simple in design and technology. The MiG-21 could carry a fair amount of armament. Located to the left of the cockpit, the twin-barreled GSh-23 23 millimeter cannon was standard with 420 rounds carried. Optional were a variety of guided air-to-air missiles (the K-13, K-13M, and R-60, for later models) and unguided bombs or rockets. A total of 2 000 kilograms of ordinance could be carried.

Mikoyan MIG 29 The Mikoyan MIG 29 was designed by Soviet Union and it is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft. MIG 29 was inducted into IAF in 1985. The IAF used MiG-29 extensively during the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir to provide fighter escort for Mirage 2000 that were attacking targets with laser-guided bombs. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and radars. The MiG-29 was developed for dual air superiority and ground-attack roles. Fighter regiments were also tasked with tactical nuclear strike with 30-kT RN-40 bombs. The basic MiG-29 has proved itself as a formidable close-in dogfighter. The pilot has a helmet-mounted sight to cue missiles onto an off-boresight target.

Mirage 2000 The Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation. It was designed in the late 1970s as a lightweight fighter to replace the Mirage III for the French Air Force. IAF became the first foreign user of the type in 1985. In 1999, when the Kargil War broke out, the Mirage 2000 performed remarkably well during the whole conflict in the high Himalayas, even though the Mirages supplied to India had limited air interdiction capability and had to be heavily modified to drop laser-guided bombs as well as conventional unguided bombs. Armed with Paveway LGBs, the aircraft were involved in the destruction of enemy command bunkers. During Operation Safed Sagar from June–July 1999, two Mirage squadrons flew a total of 514 sorties.

Sukhoi Su-30MKI The Sukhoi Su-30MKI developed by Russia is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter. It is built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for IAF. A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter. The first Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was accepted into the Indian Air Force in 2002, while the first indigenously assembled Su-30MKI entered service with the IAF in 2004. Additional MKIs have been ordered to increase the total from 272 to 314. The IAF had 230 Su-30MKIs in service as of February 2017. The Su-30MKI is expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet to 2020 and beyond.

HAL Tejas The Tejas is an Indian single-seat, single-jet engine, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for IAF and Navy. The aircraft has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration, which provides for high maneuverability. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. LCA was officially named "Tejas" in 2003, meaning "Radiant" in Sanskrit by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The HAL Tejas multi-role fighter can carry a wide range of weapons. The Aircraft is fitted with eight under-wing and under-fuselage hardpoints. Maximum capacity is over 4 000 kg of external ordnance and fuel. It can carry Astra, R-77 (AA-12 Adder) beyond visual range and R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles. Air-to-surface missiles include the Kh-59 with TV or laser guidance, Kh-35 or Kh-31 anti-ship missiles. Aircraft can also carry various bombs, including cluster or precision-guided. It is fitted with a single twin-barrel 23-mm cannon.

The SEPECAT Jaguar The SEPECAT Jaguar is a British-French jet attack aircraft originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Air Force in the close air support and nuclear strike role. It is still in service with the Indian Air Force. Originally conceived in the 1960s as a jet trainer with a light ground attack capability, the requirement for the aircraft soon changed to include supersonic performance, reconnaissance and tactical nuclear strike roles. Indian Jaguars were used to carry out reconnaissance missions in support of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990. They later played an active role in the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, dropping both unguided and laser-guided bombs, the IAF defining its role as a "deep penetrating strike aircraft". The Jaguar is also used in small numbers for the anti-ship role, equipped with the Sea Eagle missile. The Jaguar remains an important element of the Indian military as, along with the Mirage 2000, the Jaguar has been described as one of the few aircraft capable of performing the nuclear strike role with reasonable chances of success.

The Dassault Rafale The Dassault Rafale is developed by France and is a twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation. It is equipped with a wide range of weapons and is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions. The Rafale is referred to as an "omnirole" aircraft by Dassault. On 31 January 2012, the IAF announced the Rafale as the preferred bidder. It was proposed that 18 Rafales would be supplied to the IAF by 2015 in fly-away condition, while the remaining 108 would be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India under transfer of technology agreements. On 23 September 2016, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the contract for the purchase of 36 off-the-shelf Rafales in a deal worth €7.8 billion with an option for 18 more at the same inflation-adjusted price. The first Rafales are expected to be delivered by 2019, and India is set to have all 36 jets within six years. The deal includes weapons and spares; the aircraft will be equipped with Meteor BVRAAM missiles.