This article provides a list of active Indian military aircraft currently in service with the Indian Armed Forces, as well as aircraft on order. For a list of historical military aircraft used by the Indian military, see list of historical aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
^ abcdefghiThe Military Balance 2024. The International Institute for Strategic Studies. pp. 269–270. ISBN 9781032780047.
^"Delivery of single-seat Tejas LCA Mark 1 fighters to IAF completed". Business Standard. 23 August 2023.
^"1st Crash In 23 Years Of Its History, 5 Facts About Tejas Fighter Jet". NDTV.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^"Tejas MK-1A completes maiden flight, first delivery soon". The Times of India. 28 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^"When, 14 years on, IAF got its first trainer jet for LCA Tejas". India Today. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^ abPhilip, Snehesh Alex (3 February 2021). "Contract signed for 83 LCA Tejas fighters, all eyes now on HAL delivery schedule". ThePrint. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^"Rs 2.23 lakh crore-deal: India approves purchase of 97 Tejas aircraft, 156 Prachanda helicopters, other defence equipment". Money Control. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
^"India moves closer to adding $4B upgrades to Su-30 jets - AeroTime". 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
^"Air Force's Sukhoi fighter jet crashes in Maharashtra's Nashik: Report". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
^"Nod for Rs 45,000cr defence buys, 12 more Sukhois to fly in". The Times of India. 16 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^"MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes In Rajasthan, Pilot Safe". NDTV.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
^"Another MiG-21 Squadron Retired: The Curtain Is Closing on IAF's Most Abiding Fighter". The Wire. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^Peri, Dinakar (8 November 2023). "How are the MiG-21 fighter jets being phased out? | Explained". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy"World Air Forces 2024". 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
^"Ladakh face-off: India to order 2 more Israeli 'eyes in sky' for $1 billion". The Times of India. 27 August 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
^"Special Mission Aircraft are cheaper to operate than older intelligence gathering assets". Retrieved 31 August 2024.
^Philip, Snehesh Alex (14 May 2020). "India's oldest flying aircraft in spotlight after radar website shows it going to Pakistan". ThePrint. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
^Menon, Jay (23 April 2013). "RFP Coming Soon For Indian Airborne Jamming Aircraft". aviationweek.com. AWIN First.
^"PM's new special aircraft, equipped with missile defence systems, lands in Delhi". Hindustan Times. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
^"India's Air Force One takes off on first official flight". dna. PTI. 1 April 2009.
^"India gets first Embraer jet with Indian airborne radar tech". The Hindu Business Line. PTI. 17 August 2012.
^"Purchase of Transport Aircraft". Press Information Bureau. 12 December 2011.
^Chandra, Atul (27 November 2015). "India receives last batch of Ukraine-upgraded An-32s". Flightglobal.com.
^gargi.chaudhry. "Airbus to deliver another two C295 aircraft to Indian Air Force". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
^"Govt Seals Mega Deal with Airbus for Purchase of 56 C-295 Military Transport Aircraft". News18. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
^ abcJackson, Paul; Munson, Kenneth; Peacock, Lindsay, eds. (2004). "HAL (Dornier) 228". Jane's All the World's Aircraft (95th year of issue 2004-2005. ed.). Coulsdon: Janes Information Group. p. 206. ISBN 0710626142.
^"CCS Approves Procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Limited Series Production (LSP) from HAL for IAF (10) & IA(05)". www.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^ ab"IAF's Strengthened Arsenal: Acquisition of 97 Tejas Mk1A Jets Marks a Milestone". Financialexpress. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^"About 50 Rudra Attack Helicopters To Be Acquired By The Indian Air Force". 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
^Pubby, Manu. "Indigenous light choppers get go-ahead, delivery in 2022". The Economic Times.
^"IAF's Hawk aircraft crashes at Kalaikunda airbase in Bengal; pilots eject safely". Hindustan Times. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
^"Pipistrel completes deliveries of Garud trainers to India | Jane's 360". archive.ph. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
^"Defence Industry Daily: Israel sells heron UAVs to India and Australia". Strategypage.com. 11 November 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
^"IAF's 'Heron' RPA crashes in Jaisalmer; Court of Inquiry initiated". Financialexpress. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
^"India inducts new drones at forward air base in Northern sector: Report". Hindustan Times. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^"Indian Air Force inducts Heron Mk II". Janes.com. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^ abBedi, Rahul (16 September 2015). "India to buy Heron TP UAVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 52 (44). ISSN 2048-3430.
^"Aero India 2023: IAF to receive 100 loitering munitions from TASL". Janes.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^"India's first kamikaze drone developed; 5,000 units can be made in 2-3 yrs". The Week. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^"Kadet Defence systems introduces India's pioneering Loitering Aerial Munitions (LAM) for the armed forces". Financialexpress. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^"Boeing begins production of army's Apache helicopters; deliveries next year". Hindustan Times. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^"Watch: IAF's Apache-like Made in India Light Combat Helicopter". The Economic Times. 27 September 2022. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
^ ab"Army Chief says LCH good for high altitude; Army to procure 95 of them". Financialexpress. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
^Team, IADN Editorial (25 May 2024). "HAL delivers Dhruv helicopters to Army within 2 weeks of contract signing - IADN". - IADN. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
^"India's defence ministry signs deals worth $975 mln for indigenous helicopters". Reuters. 13 March 2024.
^"Centre approves 34 new Dhruv choppers for Army, Coast Guard". India Today. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
^"Army Aviation augments combat power while ageing Cheetah, Chetaks await replacement". The Hindu. 10 July 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
^"Two pilots killed after Army's Cheetah helicopter crashes near Arunachal's Bomdila; probe ordered". The Indian Express. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
^"India orders Hermes 900 for army, navy". Janes.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^"IAF's 'Heron' RPA crashes in Jaisalmer; Court of Inquiry initiated". Financialexpress. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
^"Army Gets Deliveries of 2 Israeli Heron TP Drones Bought in 2020, Deploys Them Along LAC in Ladakh". News18. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
^Thakur, Vijainder K. (24 October 2022). "Decisive Edge For IAF? India Negotiating With Israel To Locally Manufacture 'Weaponizable' Heron Mk2 Drones". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
^Bedi, Rahul (20 February 2013). "India signs up for more Heron UAVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 50 (12). ISSN 2048-3430.
^ ab"Indian Army signs $20 mn contract with ideaForge to procure SWITCH drones". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
^"Switch Prime" (PDF). ideaForge. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
^"Indian army receives its first swarm drones from newspace". The IGMP (9 march 2023).
^"Indian Army receives 'swarming' UAVs". Janes.com. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
^ ab"First Look At Indian Army's New Cargo Drones For Ladakh". livefistdefence. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
^ abcdefghijkHoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
^"Indian Navy reports crash of fifth MiG-29K in four years". 13 October 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^"MoD signs contract worth over Rs. 2,890 cr with HAL for Mid Life Upgrade of 25 Dornier Aircraft of Indian Navy". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
^"Dorniers | INAS 550 – The Flying Fish". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
^Sentinels, India. "Lockheed Martin delivers 6th MH-60R 'Romeo' helicopter to Indian Navy". www.indiasentinels.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^"Romeos are coming to India! Long wait for MH-60R multi-mission helicopter for Indian Navy is over". Financialexpress. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
^Hiranandani, G. M. (2005). Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990. Lancer Publishers. p. 99. ISBN 9788170622666.
^Mallapur, Chaitanya (4 May 2015). "India tops list of drone-importing nations". IndiaSpend. Business Standard.
^"IAF's 'Heron' RPA crashes in Jaisalmer; Court of Inquiry initiated". Financialexpress. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
^"Eye in the sky to guard Gujarat coast". The Times of India. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
^"Indian Navy commissions first UAV squadron". Us.rediff.com. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
^Peri, Dinakar (25 November 2020). "Navy inducts two Sea Guardian drones on lease from U.S." The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
^"India's first indigenously manufactured UAV 'Drishti 10 Starliner' flagged off". Hindustan Times. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^"Navy gets first India-made long endurance Drishti 10 Starliner drone". India Today. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^"Indian Coast Guard to induct 16 Advanced Light Helicopters in July, 2 of them for North-East". The Statesman. 2 April 2019.
^"Indian Coast Guard to get Dornier aircraft from HAL". 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^"Army Clears Grounded 'Dhruv' Chopper Fleet For Flight, But Conditions Apply". NDTV.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
^"Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III squadron, 840 Sqn (CG), commissioned in Chennai". www.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
^"Indian Coast Guard looks for new helicopters, rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicles". The Hindu. 26 November 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
^"India's defence ministry signs deals worth $975 mln for indigenous helicopters". Reuters. 13 March 2024.
^"Cabinet Committee on Security clears 34 new Dhruv choppers for Indian Coast Guard, Army". The Economic Times. 7 March 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 8 March 2024.