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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S-400: Russia is going to deliver the fourth squadron of S-400 Triumph air defense missile system to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the end of May this year. This delivery is an important part of the agreement for five S-400 squadrons worth $5 billion signed between India and Russia in 2018. However, deliveries were delayed due to the Russia–Ukraine war and its impact on defense production and logistics.

According to the report of idrw.org, Russian officials have now officially told India that the remaining two S-400 units will also be delivered on time.

Know the power of S-400

S-400 is the backbone of India’s long-range air and missile defense system. It protects national security and strategic areas from enemy aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones. Each squadron consists of a combination of multiple radar systems, command and control vehicles, and interceptor missiles capable of engaging targets up to 400 kilometers away.

India has already inducted three S-400 squadrons, which have been deployed on the western and northern borders to deter potential air threats from Pakistan and China. With the induction of the fourth squadron, India’s air defense capability will be further strengthened.

Discussion on purchase of more missiles

According to sources, India is in talks with Russia for the purchase of about 280 additional S-400 interceptor missiles. This stock is to replenish the missiles spent during the clash with Pakistan in May. In that conflict, Indian air defense units had targeted many bases of Pakistan Air Force. It is noteworthy that the system of S-400 played an important role in preventing enemy aircraft from entering the airspace and intercepting long-range targets. During the operation, one Pakistani air target was intercepted at a distance of approximately 314 km and one JF 17 fighter aircraft was intercepted at a distance of approximately 200 km, demonstrating the long-range capability of the S-400 and its network centric integration with Indian sensor and command systems.

Russia is expected to deliver the fifth and final S-400 squadron to India by the end of 2026. Along with this, Russia is planning to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for the S-400 in India. This feature will increase system availability, reduce repair time and reduce maintenance costs in the long run.

India is keen to buy more S-400 squadrons in the future, when the Ukraine war ends and Russia’s production lines are fully back to normal. The Indian Air Force considers it an important part of its future integrated air defense network, especially as regional rivals are incorporating stealth aircraft, long-range missiles and hypersonic weapons.