India’s fighter jets represent the cutting edge of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Navy, and a growing indigenous aviation capability — from the Russian Su-30MKI to India’s own HAL Tejas, and the newly inducted Rafale from France.
Fighter jets of India are a high-frequency topic in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, CAPF, and all Defence-focused competitive exams. This page gives you a complete, updated list of India’s major combat aircraft — their origin, role, induction year, current status, and exam-critical facts for confident revision.
⚡ Quick Facts
- Su-30MKI — IAF’s most powerful and numerous fighter; over 272 in service; manufactured by HAL under licence from Russia; can carry BrahMos cruise missile.
- HAL Tejas (LCA) — India’s first indigenously designed, developed & manufactured supersonic fighter; IOC 2014; FOC 2022; 83 Mk-1A ordered (₹48,000 crore, 2021); additional 97 ordered (2025); 180 total.
- Rafale (36 aircraft) — Inducted 2020–2022; from France (Dassault); 4.5-gen multirole; carries SCALP cruise missile and Meteor BVR missile; based at Ambala and Hasimara.
- MiG-21 (officially retired 2025) — India’s first supersonic fighter (inducted 1963); “flying coffin” nickname; 62 years of service — the longest in IAF history.
- IAF = world’s 4th largest air force — operates mix of Russian, French, and indigenously developed aircraft.
“HAL designed AND manufactures the Tejas” — WRONG. ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) designed Tejas; HAL manufactures it. Also: Mirage-2000 (not Rafale) was used in the 2019 Balakot strikes — Rafale only arrived in India in July 2020. And HAL HF-24 Marut (1967) was India’s first indigenous combat jet — NOT Tejas. Hot MCQ
✅ My Progress Tracker
✈️ Complete List of Fighter Jets of India
| # ↕ | Aircraft ↕ | Origin | Role | Inducted ↕ | Status (2026) | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sukhoi Su-30MKI | Russia (HAL licence) | Air Superiority / Multirole | 2002 | ~272 in service; primary combat fleet | IAF’s most powerful & numerous fighter; HAL-made; carries BrahMos-A Hot |
| 2 | HAL Tejas Mk-1 (LCA) | India (HAL / ADA) | Multirole Light Combat Aircraft | 2016 (FOC 2022) | ~35 in service; 2 IAF squadrons | India’s first indigenous supersonic fighter; IOC 2014; FOC 2022 Hot |
| 3 | HAL Tejas Mk-1A | India (HAL / ADA) | Advanced Multirole (Upgraded LCA) | 2024 (order placed) | 83 ordered; deliveries beginning 2024 | 83 ordered (₹48,000 crore, 2021) + 97 more (2025) = 180 total; AESA radar, new EW suite, mid-air refuelling Hot |
| 4 | HAL Tejas Mk-2 | India (Under Dev) | Advanced Medium Multirole | ~2028 planned | Under development | Larger, more powerful GE414 engine; to replace Mirage-2000 and Jaguar |
| 5 | Dassault Rafale | France (Dassault) | 4.5-gen Multirole | 2020 | 36 aircraft; 2 squadrons (operational) | 36 aircraft (contract 2016); carries SCALP + Meteor; Ambala & Hasimara Hot |
| 6 | Dassault Mirage-2000 | France (Dassault) | Multirole | 1985 | ~49 in service; being upgraded | Used in Balakot strikes (2019); nuclear-capable; SPICE-2000 bombs Hot |
| 7 | MiG-21 Bison | Russia (Soviet-era) | Light Fighter / Interceptor | 1963 | Retired 2025 | India’s first supersonic fighter (1963); “flying coffin”; retired 2025 after 62 yrs Hot |
| 8 | MiG-29 (Baaz) | Russia | Air Superiority | 1987 | ~65 in service; upgraded | IAF call sign “Baaz” (Eagle); naval variant = MiG-29K (carrier-based) |
| 9 | MiG-29K (Naval) | Russia (Naval) | Carrier-based Multirole | 2010 | ~45 in service (Navy) | Operates from INS Vikramaditya; Indian Navy’s main carrier jet |
| 10 | SEPECAT Jaguar (Shamsher) | UK–France (SEPECAT) | Ground Attack / Strike | 1979 | ~120+ in service; retiring gradually | “Shamsher” = sharp sword; nuclear-capable; long-serving maritime/ground attack |
| 11 | HAL Tejas (Navy / NLCAq) | India (HAL / ADA) | Carrier-based Light Combat | 2016 (trials) | Under dev; deck trials done | For INS Vikrant; twin-wheel nose gear; arrested landing capability |
| 12 | HAL AMCA | India (ADA — Dev) | 5th-gen Stealth Fighter | ~2035 planned | Detailed design phase | India’s first 5th-gen stealth fighter; internal weapons bay; to replace Su-30MKI Hot |
| 13 | HAL TEDBF | India (HAL — Dev) | Naval Carrier-based Fighter | ~2031 planned | Under development | Replacement for MiG-29K on INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant |
| 14 | Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet | USA (Boeing) | Carrier-based Multirole | Proposed (Navy) | Under evaluation | Competing to replace MiG-29K; Indian Navy shortlist |
| 15 | F-16 / F-21 (Offered) | USA (Lockheed) | Multirole (Not Inducted) | Not inducted | Not selected; Rafale won MMRCA | India did NOT induct F-16; Rafale won the MMRCA tender |
| 16 | Dassault Rafale (Navy) | France (Dassault) | Carrier-based (Under discussion) | Under discussion | Navy considering for INS Vikrant | Navy considering Rafale Marine for INS Vikrant and second carrier |
| 17 | HAL HJT-36 Sitara | India (HAL) | Intermediate Jet Trainer | Under development | Delayed; some testing done | IJT to replace HPT-32; development delayed |
| 18 | BAE Hawk (AJT) | UK (BAE Systems) | Advanced Jet Trainer | 2008 | ~106 in service | Surya Kiran aerobatic team uses Hawk; Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) for IAF pilots |
| 19 | HAL HF-24 Marut | India (HAL) | Ground Attack (Retired) | 1967 | Retired 1985 | India’s first indigenously designed combat jet; “Marut” = wind/storm; 1967–1985 Hot |
| 20 | HAL Ajeet | India (HAL / upgraded Gnat) | Light Fighter (Retired) | 1977 | Retired 1991 | Indigenous upgrade of British Folland Gnat; “Ajeet” = unconquered; used in 1971 war |
| Aircraft | Origin | Generation | Role | Max Speed | Key Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Su-30MKI | Russia | 4++ gen | Air Superiority / Multirole | Mach 2.0 | BrahMos-A, Astra |
| Rafale | France | 4.5 gen | Multirole | Mach 1.8 | SCALP, Meteor (BVR) |
| Tejas Mk-1A | India | 4 gen | LCA Multirole | Mach 1.6 | Astra Mk-1, Derby |
| MiG-29 | Russia | 4 gen | Air Superiority | Mach 2.3 | R-73, R-77 |
| Mirage-2000 | France | 4 gen | Multirole | Mach 2.2 | SCALP, Mica |
| Organisation | Role | Key Projects |
|---|---|---|
| HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) | Manufactures & assembles aircraft | Tejas, Su-30MKI (licence), ALH Dhruv, TEDBF |
| ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) | Designs & develops combat aircraft | Tejas (designer), AMCA |
| DRDO | Research, avionics, weapons systems | Astra missile, DARE (avionics) |
| BEL (Bharat Electronics Ltd) | Electronics, radar, avionics | Radar, EW systems for Tejas |
⚖️ Compare Two Aircraft
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
- Full name: LCA — Light Combat Aircraft Tejas
- Designed by: ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) | Manufactured by: HAL
- IOC (Initial Operational Clearance): 2014 | FOC (Final Operational Clearance): 2022
- Squadrons: No. 45 “Flying Daggers” and No. 18 “Flying Bullets”
- Features: Fly-by-wire controls, delta wing, composite material construction
- Tejas Mk-1A: 83 ordered (₹48,000 crore, 2021) + 97 ordered (₹62,370 crore, 2025) = 180 total; AESA radar, new EW suite, aerial refuelling probe
- Centrepiece of “Make in India in Defence”
- Contract signed: September 2016 (36 aircraft, government-to-government deal)
- First delivery: July 2020 (Ambala Air Force Station, Haryana)
- Delivery complete: All 36 by 2022 — two squadrons
- Stations: Ambala (1st batch) and Hasimara (West Bengal)
- Key weapons: SCALP (long-range cruise missile), Meteor (BVRAAM), MICA (medium-range)
- Generation: 4.5-gen; India-specific enhancements — cold-weather engine start (for Ladakh), helmet-mounted display
- Arrived July 2020 — weeks before the Galwan Valley clash with China
- India’s first supersonic fighter — inducted in 1963 (Soviet-era technology)
- Nickname: “Flying coffin” — India lost ~400 MiG-21s over 60 years due to accidents
- Last variant: MiG-21 Bison — upgraded with modern avionics, IRST, and missiles
- Notable: Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG-21 Bison shot down a Pakistani aircraft in Feb 2019 (Balakot aftermath); Abhinandan was briefly captured and returned in 3 days
- Final retirement: 2025 — ending 62 years of MiG-21 service
- 26 February 2019: India launched air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed camp at Balakot, Pakistan
- Aircraft used: Mirage-2000 (12 aircraft) with Israeli SPICE-2000 precision-guided bombs
- The next day (27 Feb): IAF Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG-21 Bison shot down over LoC; he parachuted into Pakistan, was captured and returned in 3 days
- Rafale was NOT used — it only arrived in India in July 2020, over a year after Balakot
- Significance: First cross-border air strike by India since 1971 war
- AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) — India’s planned 5th-gen stealth fighter; developed by ADA; GE414 engine; features internal weapons bay, stealth design, supercruise; first flight ~2030s; induction ~2035+; will replace Su-30MKI
- TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter) — Naval version for carriers; HAL project; twin-engine for carrier safety; designed to replace MiG-29K on INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant; ~2031 planned
- Together, AMCA and TEDBF represent India’s long-term path to full aerospace self-sufficiency
“Su Rafale Tejas Mirage MiG Jaguar”
S = Su-30MKI (most numerous, 4++ gen) | R = Rafale (4.5 gen, newest) | T = Tejas (indigenous LCA) | M = Mirage-2000 (French, upgrading) | M = MiG-29 (Russian, air superiority) | J = Jaguar/Shamsher (ground attack, retiring)
“Marut (1967) → Ajeet (1977) → Tejas (2016)”
HF-24 Marut = first Indian-designed jet (ground attack, retired 1985) | HAL Ajeet = first upgraded indigenous (1971 war hero) | HAL Tejas = first modern indigenous supersonic (operational 2022)
🃏 Flashcards
Click a card to flip · Use arrows to navigate
🧩 Practice Quiz
5 questions · Answer all · Check your score
LCA stands for Light Combat Aircraft. The Tejas was designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Ministry of Defence, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the primary manufacturer. Development began in the 1980s; Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) was achieved in 2014 and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in 2022. This ADA (design) vs HAL (manufacture) distinction is a very commonly tested exam trap.
The Rafale carries two key weapons: the SCALP (also called Storm Shadow) — a long-range standoff cruise missile for deep strike; and the Meteor — a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile with a ramjet engine that gives it a larger “no-escape zone” than any current BVR missile. It also carries the MICA medium-range missile. Astra and BrahMos-A are carried by the Su-30MKI, not the Rafale.
The MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic fighter jet, inducted into the IAF in 1963. It served for over 62 years — the longest service life of any combat aircraft in IAF history. The final upgraded variant — the MiG-21 Bison — was officially retired in 2025. During its service, it was nicknamed the “flying coffin” due to its high accident rate, with India losing approximately 400 MiG-21s.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a licence agreement with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation. HAL assembles and manufactures the Su-30MKI at its facility in Nashik, Maharashtra. It is the IAF’s primary air superiority and multirole combat aircraft, with over 272 in service. The Indian version includes Israel-specific avionics modifications.
The HAL HF-24 Marut was India’s first indigenously designed supersonic combat aircraft. “Marut” means wind or storm in Sanskrit — named after the Maruts, storm deities in Hindu mythology. It first flew in 1961, was inducted into the IAF in 1967, and served until 1985. Designed by German designer Kurt Tank, it remains a symbol of India’s early self-reliance in aviation. HAL Tejas (2016/2022) is the modern successor.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
HAL Tejas (LCA — Light Combat Aircraft) is India’s first indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured supersonic multirole combat aircraft. Designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tejas uses delta wing design, fly-by-wire controls, and composite material construction. It achieved IOC in 2014 and FOC in 2022, serving with No. 45 Squadron (“Flying Daggers”) and No. 18 Squadron (“Flying Bullets”). In 2021, India placed an order for 83 upgraded Tejas Mk-1A aircraft (₹48,000 crore), followed by a second order for 97 more Mk-1A (₹62,370 crore) in September 2025 — bringing total Mk-1A orders to 180 aircraft. Tejas is the centrepiece of India’s “Make in India” push in defence manufacturing.
India contracted to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation in September 2016 through a government-to-government deal. The first five aircraft arrived in India from July 2020. All 36 were delivered by 2022, forming two squadrons at Ambala (Haryana) and Hasimara (West Bengal). The Rafale is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter carrying the SCALP cruise missile and Meteor BVR missile — significantly upgrading IAF’s air superiority and deep-strike capability. India also negotiated India-specific enhancements including cold-weather engine performance (critical for Ladakh), a helmet-mounted display, and enhanced radar warning. The Rafale’s arrival in 2020, just weeks before the Galwan Valley clash with China, was seen as strategically significant.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is ranked as the world’s 4th largest air force by total aircraft numbers. Its frontline combat fleet includes the Su-30MKI (most numerous), Rafale (newest), Tejas (indigenous), Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar. The IAF faces a significant challenge with its reducing squadron strength — currently operating around 29 fighter squadrons against an authorised requirement of 42 squadrons. This gap is partly due to the retirement of aging MiG-21s (completed 2025) faster than new aircraft are being inducted. The IAF is bridging this gap through: additional Su-30MKI procurement, Tejas Mk-1A induction (83 aircraft), eventual Tejas Mk-2 (replacing Mirage-2000 and Jaguar), and the long-term AMCA 5th-generation programme.
Fighter jets are tested in UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology, Defence), SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, CAPF, and Banking General Awareness. Key tested facts include: HAL Tejas as India’s first indigenous supersonic fighter (IOC 2014, FOC 2022); Rafale contract (2016, 36 aircraft); Rafale weapons (SCALP, Meteor); Su-30MKI as IAF’s most powerful fighter (manufactured by HAL under licence); MiG-21 as India’s first supersonic fighter (1963) and its 2025 retirement; Mirage-2000’s role in Balakot strikes (2019); Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG-21 Bison story; AMCA as India’s future 5th-gen stealth fighter; and HAL Marut as India’s first indigenously designed combat jet (1967). The ADA (design) vs HAL (manufacture) distinction is also commonly tested.
