20 Largest Air Forces in The World

Page 18 of 21

4. India

Number of combat aircraft: 809

The mainstay of the Indian Air Force that ranks 4th in our list of largest air forces in the world are Russian-made Su-33 MKI multirole fighters, designed to Indian specifications. All of them are slotted to be upgraded to Super Sukhoi standard by 2020. They are complemented by Mig-29s, Mirage 2000s, Sepecat Jaguars, and domestically-built HAL Tejas, which will replace all MiG-21s and MiG-27s currently in service by 2018 and 2022 respectively. In 2016, a deal for the purchase of 36 Dassault Rafale fighters was signed and in January 2017, Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar announced that India is searching for a partner in a deal that will see “… 200 new single engine fighters be made in India, which will easily cost around $45 million apiece without weaponry”.

20 Largest Air Forces in The World

Joe Ravi/Shutterstock.com

Page 18 of 21