Volume-04 ISSN: 2455-3085 (Online) Issue-02 RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary February -2019 www.rrjournals.com [UGC Listed Journal] Structure of the Indian Air Force Pardeep Assistant Professor, Dept. of Defence Studies, Govt. College Meham, Rohtak (India) __________________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction purpose of an operational command is to conduct military Indian air force, the air arm of the Indian Defence operations using aircraft within its area of responsibility, Services, was officially established on October 08, 1932 to whereas the responsibility of functional commands is to protect the Indian sky. The President of India is the supreme maintain combat readiness. Aside from the Training Command commander of the Indian Air Force. The Motto of Indian air at Bangalore, the center for primary flight training is located at force is “Touch the sky with glory”1. the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, followed by operational training at various other schools. 2. Structure of IAF: Advanced officer training for command positions is also conducted at the Defence Services Staff College; specialized The President of India is the Supreme Commander of all advanced flight training schools are located at Bidar, Indian armed forces and by virtue of that fact is the national Karnataka, and Hakimpet, Andhra Pradesh (also the location Commander-in-chief of the Air Force. Chief of the Air Staff with for helicopter training). Technical schools are found at a the rank of Air Chief Marshal is the Commander of the Indian number of other locations. The list of all Commands is as Air Force. He is assisted by six officers, all with the rank of Air 5 under :- Marshal:- Vice Chief of the Air Staff Operational Commands Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Sr. Name of the Command Headquarter Air Officer in Charge of Administration no. Central Air Command Air Officer in Charge of Personnel 1 Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh (CAC) Air Officer in Charge of Maintenance Eastern Air Command 2 Shillong, Meghalaya Director General of Inspection and Flight Safety. (EAC) In January 2002, the government conferred the rank of Southern Air Command Thiruvananthapuram, 3 Marshal of the Air Force on Arjan Singh making him the first (SAC) Kerala South Western Air and only Five-star officer with the Indian Air Force and 4 Gandhinagar, Gujarat ceremonial chief of the air force2. Command (SWAC) Western Air Command 5 Subroto Park, New Delhi (WAC) 3. Bases:- Functional Commands The IAF operates over 60 air bases, with more being built 1 Training Command (TC) Bangalore, Karnataka or planned. They are grouped under one of the five regional air Maintenance Command 2 Nagpur, Maharashtra commands. Western air command is the largest air command. (MC) It operates 16 air bases from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh. Eastern air command operates 15 air bases in East and North-eastern 5. Wings:- India. Central air command operates 7 air bases in Madhya A wing is a formation intermediate between a command Pradesh and surrounding states of Central India. Southern air and a squadron. It generally consists of two or three IAF command, a strategically important air command, in line with squadrons and helicopter units, along with forward base India’s latest doctrine of protecting the vital shipping routes. It support units (FBSU). FBSUs do not have or host any operates 9 air bases in southern India and 2 in the Andaman squadrons or helicopter units but act as transit airbases for and Nicobar islands. South western air command is the front routine operations. In times of war, they can become fully line of defence against Pakistan; this important command fledged air bases playing host to various squadrons. In all, 3 operates 12 air bases in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan . about 47 wings and 19 FBSUs make up the IAF. Wings are Other than this Indian Air Force has one air base outside India, typically commanded by a group captain6. that is Farkhor. Farkhor Air Base is a military air base located near the town of Farkhor in Tajikistan, 130 kilometres 6. Squadrons:- southeast of the capital Dushanbe4. Farkhor is India’s first and Squadrons are the field units and formations attached to only air base outside its territory. static locations. Thus, a flying squadron or unit is a sub-unit of an air force station which carries out the primary task of the 4. Commands:- IAF. A fighter squadron consists of 16-18 aircrafts. All fighter The Indian Air Force is divided into five operational and squadrons are headed by a commanding officer with the rank two functional commands. Each Command is headed by an Air of wing commander. Some transport squadrons and helicopter Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal. The RRIJM 2015, All Rights Reserved 158 | P a g e Volume-04, Issue-02, February-2019 RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary units are headed by a commanding officer with the rank equal to the army rank of Field Marshal10. Marshal of the IAF of group captain7. The number of total approved squadrons in never retires. the Indian Air Force is 428. The duty of an airman in the Indian air force is to make 7. Officers and Airmen:- sure that all the air and ground operations run smoothly. From The Indian Air Force's rank structure is based on that of operating air defence systems to fitting missiles, they are the Royal Air Force. This is as under9:- involved in all activities of an air base and give support to 11 Junior Non- various technical and non technical jobs . The airmen of Commissioned Commissioned Commissioned Technical trades are responsible for maintenance, repair and Officers Rank Officers Rank Officers Rank prepare for use the propulsion system of aircraft and other Marshal of the Air Master Warrant airborne weapon delivery system, Radar, Voice/Data Sargeant Force Officer transmission and reception equipment, latest airborne weapon Air chief Marshal Warrant Officer Corporal delivery systems, all types of light, mechanical, hydraulic, Leading Air pneumatic systems of airborne missiles, aero engines, aircraft Air Marshal Junior Warrant Officer Craftman fuelling equipment and heavy duty mechanical vehicles, cranes Air Vice Marshal Air Craftman and loading equipment etc. The competent and qualified Airmen from Technical trades also participate in flying as Flight Air Commodore Engineers, Flight Signalers and Flight Gunners12. Group Captain 8. Conclusion:- Wing Commander Sqdn. Leader Today Indian Air Force known as world’s fourth largest Air Lieutenant force. The structure of Indian air force is totally based on Royal Flight Lieutenant air force. There is no doubt Indian Air Force growing after freedom but if we look at our neighbour countries specially at Flying Officer china and Pakistan’s air power, is still not enough for India’s security. China’s air force is more powerful than India. The highest rank attainable in the Indian Air Force is According to security purpose Air force role is very important Marshal of the Indian Air Force, conferred by the President of for a country. So India has to make its air force more powerful. India after exceptional service during wartime. Arjan Singh IAF has to complete its 42 squadrons with latest technology became the first and only officer of the Indian Air Force to be aircrafts. Thus IAF can perform it's duties and maintain its promoted to five-star rank as Marshal of the Indian Air Force, existence in proper way. Reference 1. https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/government/indian- 7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force#Squadrons_a air-force-rank-and-recruitment-process nd_units 2. http://www.ssbcrack.com/2013/10/structure-of-indian-air- 8. Yadav, L.S.,“Badhegi Vaayu sena ki Taakat”, Haribhoomi, force.html Rohtak, oct. 08,2016, P.-8 3. Singh, Prem, “Air Power and National Security: India’s Air 9. www.ssbcrack.com/2013/08/ranks-and-insignia-of-indian- Force Evolution, Growth and Future”, Prasant publishing army-navy-airforce.html house, Delhi-110094, 2017, P.- 138. 10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjan_Singh 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farkhor_Air_Base 11. Singh, Prem, “Air Power and National Security: India’s Air 5. http://www.ssbcrack.com/2013/10/structure-of-indian-air- Force Evolution, Growth and Future”, Prasant publishing force.html house, Delhi-110094, 2017, P.- 141. 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force#Wings 12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force#Structur RRIJM 2015, All Rights Reserved 159 | Page .