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How India and Pakistan stack up in the skies

When it comes to aerial might, India does seem to have an edge over its western neighbour.

New Delhi: Amid frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan and terror attacks in Kashmir, IAF chief Arup Raha asserted that the armed forces are prepared to give a befitting reply to sub-conventional threats and any other challenge facing the country.

INDIAN AIR FORCE

Fighters

  • Su-30 MKIs (around 240 Sukhois are in service)
  • MiG-29 (Less than 70 are in service)
  • Jaguar (Around 120 Jaguars are in the upgradation process)
  • MiG-27 (Ready to be phased out)
  • MiG-21 (Over 200 in service. Undergoing phase out)
  • Light Combat Aircraft (First squadron is being raised with two aircraft)
  • Mirage-2000 (Around 50 are in operation. Undergoing upgradation with new advanced avionics and MICA interception and aerial combat missiles)

Major weapons

  • R-77, Astra (under trials)
  • Air-to-air missiles
  • Kh-59, Kh-35, Kh39
  • Air-to-surface missiles
  • KAB- 500 laser-guided bombs

Transport

  • C-17 Globemaster — Heavy lift transporter provides strategic airlift capability
  • C-130 Super Hercules — Special operations aircraft
  • IL-76 — Medium lift transporter
  • An-32 — Small weight transporter
  • IL-78 — Midair refueller

Helicopter

  • Mi-17 V5 — Transport helicopter
  • Mi-25 — Attack helicopter

Surveillance

  • Awacs: Russia-Israel joint production system being used by IAF
  • AEWC (Yet to be inducted)

Future inductions

  • Rafale (36 French Rafale 4.5 generation fighter jets to join IAF in three to six years)
  • 15 Chinook heavy lift helicopters
  • 22 Apache attack helicopters
  • Fifth-generation fighter aircraft (Joint production agreement with Russia yet to be signed)

PAKISTAN AIR FORCE

Fighters

  • F-16 (Around 75 in service out of which around 18 are advanced block D version. Purchase of more advanced F-16s from the US on hold)
  • JF-17 (Around 100 in service. It will have around 250 of Pak-China joint production aircraft in service. The light multi-role combat jet is latest induction in PAF)
  • Mirage III and V: Around 160 of these old French fighter jets in service
  • Chengdu F-7: Less than 200 of this Chinese variant of M-21s is in service. It is being replaced by JF-17 Thunder

Transport aircraft

  • C-130 — Tactical transport aircraft (Less than 20)
  • IL-78 — Midair refueller

Helicopters

  • Mi-17 (Around 45 in service)

Surveillance

  • SAAB 2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning & Control
  • ZDK 03 Chinese Airborne-Warning and Control System

Future inductions

  • More number of latest version of F-16s
  • Second line of JF-17 Thunder
  • Chengdu J-10 multi-role fighters likely
( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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