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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has transformed from a colonial auxiliary force to one of the world’s largest and most powerful air forces, operating a diverse range of fighter jets, bombers, transporters and trainer aircraft, and helicopters. The Indian Air Force’s rich history reflects India’s transition from colonial rule to an independent nation with a strong military presence. The IAF played a crucial role in India’s defence and security as the guardian of India’s skies– both in war and peace. Here’s a brief look at the key stages in its evolution:
Early Years (1932-1947)
The IAF was born on October 8, 1932, as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire, with six officers, 19 airmen then known as Hawai Sepoys and four Westland Wapiti biplanes. Its primary objective was to support the British Indian Army. The first squadron of the auxiliary Air Force called the No. 1 Squadron, also known as “Tiger Squadron”, was formed on April 1, 1933. The squadron was primarily used for reconnaissance and communication support. It was stationed at Drigh Road, Karachi (now in Pakistan) and manned by a handful of Indian pilots, including Subroto Mukerjee, who later became the first Indian Chief of Air Staff and Arjan Singh (Later a Marshal of the Air Force). Flt Lt CA Bouchier (later Air Vice Marshal) was the first Commanding Officer of the Squadron.
On 16th March, 1939 Flt Lt Subroto Mukherjee took over the Command of the Squadron and went on to be the first Indian to command a flight, a Squadron, a Station and finally, the Indian Air Force.
During World War I, British forces in India relied on the Royal Flying Corps (which later became the Royal Air Force in 1918) for air support or reconnaissance needs. Indian personnel served in the British armed forces during the war, but there was no separate air force for India at that time.
During World War II, the No. 1 Squadron played a crucial role supporting the British in various campaigns, particularly in Burma (modern-day Myanmar) and Southeast Asia against Japanese forces. This laid the foundation for the future growth and operational success of the IAF.
This squadron continues to be active even today and has participated in numerous operations, including the Indo-Pakistan Wars of 1947-48, 1965, and 1971. In recent years, the squadron has been equipped with advanced fighter jets, such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
Post-Independence (1947-1965)
The partition of India in 1947 resulted in the division of military assets, including those of the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF), between India and Pakistan. At the time, the Royal Indian Air Force possessed a number of propeller-driven fighters and bombers including World War II vintage Spitfire, Hawker Tempest, Douglas Dakota transport aircraft, and Harvard trainers.
India retained almost two-thirds of the total RIAF fleet of aircraft while around one-third of the total aircraft were transferred to the newly formed Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The actual numbers of planes in each country’s inventory was actually smaller as many of them were not in flying condition.
India inherited most of the airbases in the northern and central parts of the subcontinent including Delhi, Ambala, Kanpur, and Bangalore, while Pakistan was given about seven airbases such as Peshawar, Lahore, and Karachi that fell within its borders in the western region.
Even in terms of personnel, many of the Royal Indian Air Force pilots and support staff opted to stay in India. They were retained by the Indian Air Force (IAF) with Group Captain Subroto Mukerjee as the first Indian chief. The remaining, comparatively smaller number of experienced Muslim officers, ground crew, and pilots moved to Pakistan.
The IAF’s earliest major challenge came during the first Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948, also known as the First Kashmir War. However the IAF largely played a supportive role during that initial military conflict between India and Pakistan after partition largely because the Indian leadership under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru feared that Air strikes over Pakistani territory could escalate the conflict and draw international condemnation. Hence the IAF confined itself to airlifting Indian troops to Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, which was under immediate threat of being overrun by Pakistani forces. On October 27, 1947, just a day after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India, the IAF began a massive airlift operation using Dakota transport aircraft to ferry soldiers of the Sikh Regiment from Delhi to the Srinagar airfield. This airlift was critical in preventing the fall of Srinagar. Without IAF’s quick action, the Indian Army would have been unable to secure the airport, which became a lifeline for subsequent reinforcements and supplies.
Apart from this, the IAF conducted casualty evacuation missions by airlifting wounded soldiers to hospitals in safer areas, while the IAF Harvard and Spitfire aircraft carried out aerial surveillance and provided intelligence on enemy movements. These reconnaissance missions helped the Indian Army track the progress of Pakistani forces and tribal invaders, and plan its operations more effectively.
The IAF, still in its infancy, had a relatively small number of planes and personnel at its disposal. Most of the IAF fleet consisted of outdated World War II-era Dakota, Spitfire, and Tempest aircraft. The mountainous terrain and harsh weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir presented significant challenges for IAF pilots. The airfields in high-altitude areas were primitive and risky for transport aircraft like the Dakota.
The difficult terrain, harsh weather conditions, and poor road connectivity in the region meant that air transport was the most efficient way to maintain Indian Army positions. The IAF quickly adapted to the requirements of the war and complemented the Army’s operations focusing on transport and logistics rather than spearheading independent aerial missions.
The IAF’s role in airlifting troops, ammunition, equipment and medical supplies helped the Indian Army defend Kashmir. The successful airlift operation on October 27, 1947, is often considered a turning point in the war, also underscored the importance of air mobility in mountainous regions like Kashmir. The lesson learnt at that time helped shape the IAF’s future operational strategies.
After the war the Indian Air Force (IAF) focused on modernising its fleet by replacing the propeller-driven aircraft with jets like the de Havilland Vampire and Hawker Hunter by the early 1950s. On the other hand the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which started with a smaller number of aircraft and limited infrastructure, sought help from the United States and United Kingdom to modernise its air force and acquire aircraft like the F-86 Sabre.
It is worth mentioning that Pakistan, which was far behind India in terms of trained manpower, infrastructure and airfields, managed to modernise its air force because of massive external help, while India focused on indigenous development and modernisation in the post-independence years.
The early 1950s were a period of consolidation, focusing on transitioning from older aircraft to more modern equipment. The prefix “Royal” in the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) was dropped and the focus shifted towards an independent and modern Indian Air Force. The 1950s and 1960s saw the induction of a large number of aircraft like the de Havilland Vampire, Hawker Hunter, English Electric Canberra, Dassault Mystère IV and the Gnat. During this period, the IAF also concentrated on modernising existing facilities and upgrading airbases and infrastructure across the country to support the growing fleet, and on training pilots and ground crew to operate the new jet aircraft. This included both domestic training and sending personnel abroad for specialised courses.
Sino-Indian War (1962)
Once again during the 1962 Sino-Indian war, the Indian Air Force played a limited role because Prime Minister Nehru and his Defence Minister V.K. Krishna Menon, adhered to a policy of limited warfare, believing that diplomacy might still settle the conflict and fearing that the involvement of the IAF in direct combat might escalate it beyond control.
The IAF however played a crucial role in the War by providing airlift support and logistical assistance to the Indian Army in the remote and high-altitude regions of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Although the IAF did not engage heavily in combat operations, the IAF Dakota transport aircraft airlifted troops, supplies, and medical evacuations.
The experience of the 1962 war highlighted the need for better preparation, training, and infrastructure for future conflicts, which helped shape the IAF’s development in the following years, especially in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.
Indo-Pakistani Wars (1965-1971)
The IAF played a significant and active role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. The IAF Hawker Hunter, Folland Gnat, and Dassault Mystère IV proved their might in air combat and dogfights with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft. The Gnat earned the nickname “Sabre Slayer” for its success against the PAF’s F-86 Sabres. Several Sabres were shot down by Gnats during the war. The IAF conducted bombing raids on Pakistani military targets, including airbases and supply lines, using Canberra bombers and Mystère IVs. The IAF also provided critical intelligence and reconnaissance collected by Canberra and other reconnaissance planes.
IAF aircraft engaged the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft in air-to-air combat and limited its ability to provide air support to Pakistani tank formations. IAF Hawker Hunters and Folland Gnats carried out bombing and strafing missions against Pakistani tank formations, particularly targeting the advancing Patton tanks of the Pakistani 1st Armoured Division.
The IAF’s decisive role in battles of Asal Uttar near the town of Khem Karan helped turn the tide of the war and shaped the outcome of the conflict. The combined effect of IAF and Indian Army’s attack led to the destruction and capture of a large number of Pakistani M48 Patton tanks. The battle earned the area the nickname “Patton Nagar” (Patton City) due to the large number of destroyed Pakistani tanks left on the battlefield. Other key battles where the IAF air to ground attacks made a significant contribution include the battles of Chawinda near Sialkot, Dograi along the Ichhogil Canal near Lahore, and Chamb.
The 1965 war revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the IAF and underscored the need for more advanced aircraft and better coordination between air and ground forces. The war underscored the importance of air defence networks, better aircraft maintenance, and the integration of more advanced fighter jets and bombers. The experience gained in 1965 helped shape the IAF’s doctrine and strategies in future conflicts, particularly the Indo-Pak War of 1971, where the IAF would play an even more decisive role.
In the following years, the IAF continued to modernise its fleet and acquired more advanced jet aircraft like the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighters from the Soviet Union, which became a mainstay of the IAF in subsequent decades. This period laid the foundation for the IAF’s growth into a more comprehensive and capable air force. Although the IAF played a pivotal role, the war highlighted the need for further upgrades and a more robust air strategy.
During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, the IAF played a critical part in achieving Indian military objectives. It conducted air superiority missions, bombed strategic locations, and provided close air support, gaining significant praise for its effective role in the conflict. This war solidified the IAF’s status as a regional air power.
Modernisation and Expansion (1971-1999)
The 1970s and 1980s saw the induction of advanced aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Mi-17 helicopters. The IAF also expanded its capabilities, establishing new commands and bases. In the 1990s, the IAF participated in international peacekeeping missions, including the UN operation in Somalia.
Kargil War and Contemporary Era (1999 to the Present)
In 1999, during the Kargil War the IAF launched Operation Safed Sagar, providing crucial air support to Indian ground forces, and conducted precision bombing missions in high-altitude environments to dislodge Pakistani infiltrators from strategic positions. This was the first time that the IAF used laser-guided bombs.
In recent years, the IAF inducted advanced aircraft like the Su-30MKI, Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), and Rafale while keeping its focus on developing indigenous technology to reduce the dependence on foreign equipment. The Tejas, developed by India, represents a significant step toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The IAF’s current fleet includes cutting-edge aircraft such as the Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and C-17 Globemaster III that boost its capabilities to engage in both conventional and asymmetric warfare.
The IAF has also enhanced its capabilities in the areas of space and cyber warfare.
Future Prospects
The IAF is set to play a greater role in regional security. The stress put on the goals of modernisation, self-reliance (through initiatives like “Make in India”), and space-based assets will continue to shape the IAF’s evolution in the coming decades.
Conclusion
The Indian Air Force has come a long way since its inception, shaped by the historical and strategic context and national security requirements. From its early days as a small auxiliary air force to its current status as a formidable air power, the IAF has played a rapidly increasing role in safeguarding Indian skies and interests. As the nation grows and evolves, the IAF remains a critical instrument to defend and uphold its sovereignty.
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