According to the latest assessment by the WDMMA, the Indian Air Force continues to rank ahead of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force for the fifth consecutive year since 2022.
According to the WDMMA report, the Indian Air Force currently operates a total of 1,716 military aircraft. Its fleet includes 542 fighters across seven types, still accounting for the retired MiG-21s as of September 2025. The IAF also fields 498 helicopters, notably 222 Mi-17s and 111 indigenous HAL Dhruv/Rudra variants, along with 282 transports, 374 trainers, and 20 special mission aircraft.
Only the United States Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces are placed higher than the IAF, underscoring India’s strong standing among global military aviation powers. This consistent performance highlights the IAF’s operational strength and modernisation efforts in a challenging regional environment.
