IAF

The Indian Aviation Force (IAF) is the air component of the Indian Armed Forces. In terms of personnel and aircraft assets, it is the world’s fourth largest air force. Its primary mission is to protect Indian airspace and engage in aerial warfare in the event of an armed conflict. It was founded on October 8, 1932, as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire, with the prefix Royal honouring India’s aviation service during World War II. The designation Royal Indian Air Force was preserved and served in the name of Dominion of India after India obtained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. When the country became a republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was deleted.

The Indian Air Force has fought four conflicts with Pakistan since 1950.
Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus, and Operation Poomalai are some of the IAF’s other important operations.
The IAF’s mandate includes participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions in addition to action with enemy forces.

The Indian President is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force has 1,39,576 members serving as of July 1, 2017.
The Chief of the Air Staff, an air chief marshal, is a four-star commander who oversees the majority of the Air Force’s operational command.
In the IAF, there is never more than one ACM on duty at any given time.
Arjan Singh was given the title of Marshal of the Air Force by the President of India on one time in history.
Singh earned the IAF’s first and only five-star rank officer on January 26, 2002.