MiG-21
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
multi-role fighter
IAF Name:
Vikram , Trishul
NATO Name:
Fishbed
IAF Serial Number: C448 & U655 role prefixes are subject to change) Year of induction in IAF: Variants used by IAF: Total number in IAF:
[two-seat trainer] onwards (serials and
1963
bis , FL , M , MF , U (two-seat trainer)
450 + / -
MiG-23
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
variable-geometry ground support aircraft
IAF Name:
Rakshak (Mig-23MF) , Vijaay (Mig-23 BN)
NATO Name:
Flogger - G
IAF Serial Number: change)
SM201 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF: Variants used by IAF: Total number in IAF:
1981
BN , MF , U (two-seat trainer)
120 + / -
MiG-25
The Indian Defence Gallery
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
Type: high altitude higher than Mach 3) IAF Name:
strategic reconnaissance aircraft (can fly at speeds
Garuda
NATO Name:
Foxbat
IAF Serial Number: change)
in KP350 range (serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF: Variants used by IAF:
1981
R , RU (two-seat trainer)
The MiG-25 was retired from active service in May 2006. Only 8 MiG-25s were ever in service with the IAF. They were part of the Sqn No.102 known as the Trisonics. Total number in IAF:
MiG-27
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
variable-geometry ground attack aircraft
IAF Name:
Bahadhur
NATO Name:
Flogger - J
IAF Serial Number: change)
TS501 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF: Variants used by IAF: Total number in IAF:
1984
ML
200 + / -
MiG-29
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
air superiority fighter
IAF Name:
Baaz
NATO Name:
Fulcrum
IAF Serial Number: change)
KB701 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF: Variants used by IAF: Total number in IAF:
1987
B , UB (two-seat trainer)
70 + / -
SEPECAT Jaguar
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
long range strike aircraft
IAF Name:
Shamsher
JM251 [maritime attack] , JS101 [ground attack] & JT051 [two-seat trainer] onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to IAF Serial Number: change) Year of induction in IAF: Variants used by IAF:
1979
IS (ground attack), IM (maritime attack), IB (two-
seat trainer) Total number in IAF:
100 + / -
Dassault Mirage 2000
The Indian Defence Gallery
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
Type:
mulit-role fighter
IAF Name:
Vajra
IAF Serial Number: KF101 [Mirage 2000H] & KT201 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to change) Year of induction in IAF: Variants used by IAF: Total number in IAF:
[Mirage 2000TH]
1985
H , TH (two-seat trainer)
40 + / -
Sukhoi-30
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
two-seat mulit-role fighter
IAF Name:
?
NATO Name:
Flanker
IAF Serial Number: change)
SB001 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF:
1997
K, MKI (The Su-30K is no longer in service. All new Su-30s being inducted are of MKI type) Variants used by IAF:
a total of 140 aircraft are to be license manufactured in India Total number in IAF:
HAL LCA (TEJAS)
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
light weight mulit-role fighter
IAF Serial Number: change)
KH2001 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to
The first flight of the LCA took place on 4th January 2001. The expected induction date has been revised a number of times. Currently expected to enter service only around 2010. Year of induction in IAF:
Total number in IAF:
IAF requires anywhere between 100 to 200 LCAs
Mil-8/17
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
multi-role transport helicopter
IAF Name:
Mi-8 (Rana), Mi-17 (Pratap)
NATO Name:
Hip
IAF Serial Number:
Z followed by 4 digits
Year of induction in IAF: Total number in IAF:
Mi-8 (1971), Mi-17 (1985)
80 + / - (Mi-8) , 100 + / - (Mi-17)
Mil
25/35 IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
tactical gunship helicopter
IAF Name:
Akbar (Mi-25), Ranjeet (Mi-35)
NATO Name:
Hind
I1AF Serial Number:
Z followed by 4 digits
Year of induction in IAF: Total number in IAF:
1984 (Mi-25), 1990 (Mi-35)
20 + / - (Mi-25) , 40 + / - (Mi-35)
Mil-26
The Indian Defence Gallery
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
Type:
heavy transport helicopter
IAF Name:
?
NATO Name:
Halo
IAF Serial Number:
Z followed by 4 digits
Year of induction in IAF: Total number in IAF:
1986
10 + / HAL Advanced Light Helicopter
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
light transport / anti-armour
IAF Name:
?
IAF Serial Number:
Z followed by 4 digits
Year of induction in IAF:
not inducted yet - still undergoing user trials.
Total number in IAF:
The IAF plans to buy a total of 150 such helicopters.
Antonov-32
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
tactical transport aircraft
IAF Name:
Sutlej
NATO Name:
Cline
IAF Serial Number: change)
K2668 onwards(serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF: Total number in IAF:
1983
120 + / Hawker Siddley HS.748 (Avro)
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
medium transport
IAF Name:
Chitra
IAF Serial Number: change)
H572 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF: Total number in IAF:
1964
40 +/-Dornier 228
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
light transport
IAF Name:
?
IAF Serial Number: change)
HM667 onwards (serials and role prefixes are subject to
Year of induction in IAF: Total number in IAF:
1988
40 +/-
Ilyushin-76 / Ilyushin-78MKI
The Indian Defence Gallery
Type:
IAF Serials and Squardon Badges
heavy airlift freighter / in-flight refueler
IAF Name:
Gajraj
NATO Name:
Candid
IAF Serial Number: K2661 onwards and role prefixes are subject to change) Year of induction in IAF: Total number in IAF:
1985
30 + / -
(IL-76), RK series for IL-78MKI (serials