The Indian Air Force (IAF) flies six types of fighter jets in 2026: the Su-30MKI, Rafale, Tejas Mk1, Mirage 2000, MiG-29 and Jaguar. The MiG-21, India’s first supersonic fighter, was retired on 26 September 2025 after 62 years, which brought the IAF down to about 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42. This page lists each fighter with its origin and role, the Navy’s carrier jets, the aircraft on order, and the squadron-strength problem that UPSC GS Paper III asks about.
Quick Answer
IAF fighters in service (2026): Su-30MKI (backbone, about 260), Rafale (36), Tejas Mk1 (2 squadrons), Mirage 2000, MiG-29 UPG and Jaguar. Navy: MiG-29K on INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant; 26 Rafale-M ordered in 2025. On order: 180 Tejas Mk1A (83 in 2021 + 97 in 2025), deliveries delayed by engine supply. Future: Tejas Mk2, AMCA (fifth generation) and 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft. Squadrons: about 29 against 42 sanctioned, the lowest since the 1960s.
Fighter Jets of the Indian Air Force
| Aircraft | Origin | Generation | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sukhoi Su-30MKI | Russia; licence-built by HAL (Nashik) | 4+ | Air superiority, multirole | Largest fleet, about 260; carries the BrahMos-A cruise missile |
| Dassault Rafale | France | 4.5 | Multirole, deep strike | 36 jets delivered 2020–22 at Ambala and Hasimara; Meteor and SCALP missiles |
| HAL Tejas Mk1 | India (ADA/HAL) | 4 | Light combat aircraft | 45 Squadron "Flying Daggers" and 18 Squadron "Flying Bullets" |
| Dassault Mirage 2000 | France | 4 | Multirole, strike | Used in the Kargil war (1999) and the Balakot strike (2019) |
| Mikoyan MiG-29 UPG | Russia | 4 | Air superiority | Upgraded fleet; to be phased out later this decade |
| SEPECAT Jaguar | UK–France; licence-built by HAL | 3/4 | Deep penetration strike | India is the last air force flying it; DARIN III upgrade |
Retired: the MiG-21
The MiG-21 joined the IAF in 1963 (No. 28 Squadron, "First Supersonics", Chandigarh). More than 870 were inducted over six decades. Its last two squadrons, No. 3 "Cobras" and No. 23 "Panthers", flying the upgraded MiG-21 Bison, were retired at Chandigarh on 26 September 2025. Its long accident record had earned it the nickname "flying coffin".
Naval Fighter Jets
| Aircraft | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MiG-29K / KUB | INS Vikramaditya, INS Vikrant | In service; the Navy’s current carrier fighter |
| Rafale Marine (Rafale-M) | INS Vikrant | 26 ordered in April 2025 under a government-to-government deal with France |
| TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter) | Future carriers | Indigenous project under development |
Fighters on Order and Under Development
- Tejas Mk1A: an improved Tejas with an AESA radar, electronic warfare suite and the Astra missile. 83 were ordered in 2021 and 97 more in 2025, for 180 in all. Deliveries, originally due from 2024, slipped because of GE F404 engine supply delays and integration issues; as of late 2026 they had not started at squadron scale.
- Tejas Mk2 (Medium Weight Fighter): a larger, more capable version with the GE F414 engine, meant to replace the Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29.
- AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft): India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency; in 2025 the government approved an execution model that allows private industry to bid as the production partner.
- MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft): a long-pending plan to buy 114 fighters, mostly to be built in India.
The Squadron Strength Problem
The IAF is authorised 42 fighter squadrons (16–18 aircraft each) to fight a two-front war against China and Pakistan. It peaked at about 41 in the 1990s and has been falling as older fleets retire faster than new ones arrive.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Retirement of the MiG-21 (2025) | Strength down to about 29 squadrons |
| Delays in Tejas Mk1A deliveries | Replacement gap persists |
| MiG-29, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 due to retire by early 2030s | Further fall unless new jets arrive |
| Dependence on imported engines (GE F404/F414) | Production bottlenecks |
| Long procurement cycles (MRFA pending since 2018) | Slow modernisation |
The Air Chief has said the IAF needs 36–40 new fighters every year just to stop the decline.
Way forward for Mains answers
- Speed up Tejas Mk1A production, including a second HAL line and private-sector partners.
- Build an indigenous aero-engine (a joint engine project with France’s Safran has been discussed for the AMCA).
- Close the MRFA decision.
- Make full use of force multipliers: AWACS, mid-air refuellers and long-range missiles.
- Push Make in India under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and the positive indigenisation lists.
For India’s five-star air rank and its only holder, see Field Marshal and Marshal of the IAF.
