The Indian Air Force, a giant in the making: Swiss think tank

India’s air power was on full display during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when precision strikes on terror infrastructure across the western border demonstrated reach, coordination and the ability to operate in a contested environment. Against the backdrop of regional tensions, the operation signalled not just tactical success but the growing technological and organisational maturity of the Indian Air Force (IAF). A new assessment by the Switzerland-based Centre for Military History and Perspective Studies (CHPM) argues that such missions reflect a deeper transformation, describing the IAF as “a giant in the making.”

According to the report, the IAF today is the world’s fourth-largest air force by size, but its significance lies increasingly in capability rather than sheer numbers.

Operation Sindoor and the proof of modern air power

CHPM’s conclusions come against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when India launched precision strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The operation, carried out in a tightly coordinated mission lasting minutes rather than hours, is seen as a practical demonstration of how far the IAF has evolved.

Indian aircraft employed precision-guided munitions to hit nine identified targets, including facilities linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The strikes reportedly bypassed layered air defences, underlining improved planning, electronic warfare support and stand-off strike capability. Indian officials described the action as “measured” and “non-escalatory”, but militarily it signalled the ability to project calibrated force deep across borders.

For CHPM, such operations are made possible not only by advanced aircraft and weapons but by networked command systems. The IAF’s Integrated Air Command, Control and Communication System (IACCCS) is highlighted as a backbone that fuses data from multiple sensors to produce a real-time air picture. Fully integrated with the Army and Navy’s air defence networks, and designed to be redundant and hardened, it allows decentralised yet coordinated responses — a hallmark of modern air warfare.

A mixed high-end fleet

The report notes that the IAF of the late Cold War era relied heavily on ageing platforms, with large numbers of MiG-21 variants and other legacy aircraft.

That strategy, CHPM says, has yielded mixed but ultimately significant results. Licensed production and local assembly have pushed the indigenisation level of platforms such as the Su-30MKI and Hawk trainer above 70 per cent. The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, though delayed for decades, has now entered squadron service, and the more advanced Mark-1A variant with an AESA radar is on order in large numbers.

At the same time, India has drawn on a broad range of international partners. Russia remains important through the Su-30MKI, legacy fleet upgrades and the induction of S-400 long-range air defence systems.

France has provided Rafale fighters, giving the IAF access to Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles and SCALP cruise missiles. Israel has been central in supplying air-to-air and precision-guided munitions, radars and a large part of India’s UAV fleet, while the US and UK have contributed transport aircraft, trainers and other systems.

The result, according to CHPM, is a combat fleet of roughly 650 aircraft that includes Su-30MKI, Rafale and Tejas fighters alongside upgraded Mirage 2000, MiG-29 and Jaguar jets. These aircraft can employ active radar-guided missiles such as R-77, MICA, Derby and Meteor, as well as long-range strike weapons including SCALP and BrahMos. Airborne early warning is provided by A-50 Phalcon and indigenous Netra platforms, supported by aerial refuellers.

Jointness, air defence and the road ahead

Beyond aircraft, the think tank emphasises the scale of India’s investment in ground-based air defence. Systems such as Akash, Barak-8, Spyder, QRSAM and the S-400 have replaced or supplemented older inventories, creating a layered shield. Upgraded anti-aircraft guns, electronic intelligence and jamming systems add further depth.

Institutional reforms are also seen as crucial. The creation of the Chief of Defence Staff, the Department of Military Affairs, joint logistics nodes and moves towards integrated theatre commands are designed to tighten coordination across services. Regular tri-service exercises and technology-driven courses aim to build a culture of joint operations and multi-domain warfare.

With a more homogeneous high-end fleet, indigenous missile development, robust command networks and growing jointness, the Indian Air Force is evolving from a large regional force into a technologically sophisticated air arm, a “giant in the making” whose influence on the Asian balance of power is growing rapidly.