By Admin 
Indian Air Force: The Indian government has approved the purchase of 114 more Rafale fighter jets from France. With this step, the squadron strength of the Indian Air Force is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. In the meantime, let us know how many fighter jets are there in a squadron of the Indian Air Force and how many does India have at present.
How many fighter jets are there in a squadron?
A standard fighter squadron of the Indian Air Force usually consists of 18 fighter aircraft. Of these 18 aircraft, about 16 are operational fighter jets, while two are trainer aircraft. These are used for pilot conversion and operational training. Apart from this, some aircraft are kept in reserve to manage maintenance cycles and emergencies. Each squadron is usually commanded by an officer of the rank of Wing Commander. It oversees operational preparation, training and deployment.
How many fighter squadrons does India have now?
By February 2026, the Indian Air Force is operating approximately 29 active fighter squadrons. This is much less than its sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons. This is considered necessary to deal with the two front situation. The decline in squadron numbers over the past few years has been mainly due to the retirement of older aircraft such as the MiG variants. Along with this, new aircraft have been gradually included.
Total fighter aircraft in service
Based on the current 29-30 squadrons, India has approximately 520 to 540 operational fighter aircraft. This number keeps going up and down depending on retirements, upgrades and new inductions. Although the fleet is still strong, the gap between sanctioned and actual numbers remains a strategic concern.
114 What will change with Rafale jet?
With the approval to purchase 114 more Rafale jets, the number of squadrons is expected to improve significantly in the next 10 years. Once inducted, these aircraft will greatly help India get closer to its projected strength and modernize its fighter fleet. With growing regional security challenges, expanding squadron capability is not just about numbers. It is about maintaining air power and also about the strength of the Indian Air Force.
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