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The IAF's combat fleet of imported and indigenous fighters, operating 29 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42 after the MiG-21's retirement.
The Indian Air Force's fighter fleet combines imported and indigenously developed aircraft to perform air superiority, strike and air defence roles. Following the retirement of the MiG-21 on 26 September 2025 after more than six decades of service from 1963, the IAF operates 29 active fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42 — its lowest combat strength since the 1960s. The fleet spans third-generation strike aircraft through to 4.5-generation multirole fighters, with the indigenous Tejas programme intended to close the squadron gap.
Type: ConceptSukhoi Su-30MKI (Flanker-H) — Russia/India, 4.5 generation, heavy multirole; the backbone of the combat fleet
Dassault Rafale — France, 4.5 generation, omnirole; used for air defence, ground support, deep strike and nuclear deterrence
HAL Tejas (LCA) — India, 4th generation, light multirole; designed by ADA and manufactured by HAL
Mirage 2000 (Vajra) — France, 4th generation multirole; decisive in the 1999 Kargil War and the 2019 Balakot strike
MiG-29 (Baaz UPG) — Soviet Union/Russia, 4th generation, air superiority upgraded to multirole
SEPECAT Jaguar (Shamsher) — UK/France, 3rd generation, deep penetration strike
| Aircraft | Origin | Generation | Primary Role | Key Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Su-30MKI (Flanker-H) | Russia / India | 4.5 | Heavy multirole | BrahMos-A, Astra, Rudram |
| Dassault Rafale | France | 4.5 | Omnirole fighter | Meteor, SCALP, HAMMER, MICA |
| HAL Tejas (LCA) | India | 4 | Light multirole | Astra, Python-5, Derby |
| Mirage 2000 (Vajra) | France | 4 | Multirole fighter | MICA, Spice 2000 |
| MiG-29 (Baaz UPG) | Soviet Union / Russia | 4 | Air superiority / multirole | R-77, Kh-35 |
| SEPECAT Jaguar (Shamsher) | UK / France | 3 | Deep penetration strike | ASRAAM, Harpoon |
29
42
26 September 2025, at Chandigarh, after service from 1963
Bars passive electronically scanned array (PESA); to be upgraded to indigenous Virupaksha AESA under the 'Super Sukhoi' programme
No. 17 'Golden Arrows' at Ambala, Haryana and No. 101 'Falcons' at Hasimara, West Bengal
General Electric F404, with quadruplex digital fly-by-wire controls
The gap between 29 operational squadrons and a sanctioned 42 is the central fact of Indian air power today, and it drives almost every procurement decision. The MiG-21's retirement in September 2025 closed a six-decade chapter but deepened that shortfall, and the indigenous Tejas Mk1A is the designated replacement. Two indigenisation threads are worth tracking: the Su-30MKI is built by HAL under licence and its production line at Nashik has been revived, with twelve new aircraft planned for delivery between 2027-2028 and 2029; and the 'Super Sukhoi' upgrade will fit the indigenous Virupaksha AESA radar in place of the Russian Bars PESA.
Frequency: A staple of defence exam general awareness; also appears in UPSC science and technology questions on indigenous manufacturing.
29 active fighter squadrons; sanctioned strength 42
MiG-21 (Bison) retired 26 September 2025 after six decades from 1963
Su-30MKI — 4.5 gen, heavy multirole, carries the air-launched BrahMos-A
Rafale — 4.5 gen omnirole, RBE2 AESA radar and SPECTRA EW suite, Meteor and SCALP missiles
Tejas — indigenous light multirole; ADA designed, HAL built, GE F404 engine
Local names: Mirage 2000 = Vajra, MiG-29 = Baaz, Jaguar = Shamsher
The IAF operates 29 active fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42, its lowest combat strength since the 1960s following the MiG-21's retirement.
On 26 September 2025, at a ceremonial farewell at Chandigarh, after more than six decades of service beginning in 1963.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI carries the air-launched BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile, along with the Astra beyond-visual-range missile and the Rudram anti-radiation missile.
In two squadrons — No. 17 'Golden Arrows' at Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana, and No. 101 'Falcons' at Hasimara Air Force Station in West Bengal.
The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India.