The
Indian Air Force (IAF;
Devanāgarī: भारतीय वायु सेना, Bhartiya Vāyu Senā) is the air arm of the
Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace
and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict.
It was officially established on
8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the Indian Empire and the prefix
Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during World War II.
After India achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the Royal
Indian Air Force served the Union of India, with the prefix being dropped when
India became a republic in 1950. Since independence, the IAF has been involved
in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of
China. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay -
the invasion of Goa, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus and Operation
Poomalai. Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in
United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The President of India serves as
the Commander-in-Chief of the IAF. The Chief of Air Staff, an Air Chief Marshal
(ACM), is a four star commander and commands the Air Force. There is never more
than one serving ACM at any given time in the IAF. One officer Arjan Singh ,
DFC has been conferred the rank of Marshal of the Air Force, a 5-star rank and
the officer serves as the ceremonial chief. With a strength of approximately
170,000 personnel and 1,351 aircraft (year 2010 - 2011),[1] the Indian Air
Force comprises one of the worlds largest air forces. In recent years, the IAF
has undertaken an ambitious expansion and modernisation program to replace its
aging Soviet-era fighter jets.
Looking Forward IAF has confidently commenced
its journey in the new millennium. Today it is a highly technical and
specialized fighting force capable of safeguarding the in the nation’s skies
from any enemy aggression even in the present nuclear environment. The IAF is
now a confident aerospace force of Air Warriors capable keeping its glorious
tradition alive and living up to its motto- “Touch the Sky withGlory” Future.
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