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Indian Air Force facts for kids

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Air Force Ensign of India
Ensign of the Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian Military. The Royal Indian Air Force was founded on 1 April 1932 as part of the armed forces of the British Empire. In 1950, after independence, India dropped the word 'Royal' from the name.

Since 1950, the IAF has been involved in 5 wars but also participates regularly in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The Indian Air Force has around 170,000 personnel and around 1700 aircraft making it the 4th largest air force in the world in terms of aircraft. The motto of the Indian Air Force is nabhah sprsham diptam ('touch the sky with glory').The motto has been taken from the Sacred Bhagavad Gita,Chapter 11,Verse 24.

Images for kids

  • IAF Roundels
    Evolution of the IAF roundel over the years:
    1. 1933–1942
    2. 1942–1945
    3. 1947–1950
    4. 1950 – present
  • Indian Air Force flag at India Gate

    Indian Air Force flag at India Gate, New Delhi

  • IAF Wapiti K1260

    A Westland Wapiti, one of the first aircraft of the Indian Air Force

  • Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection CI75

    World War II photo: Arjan Singh (middle) as Flight Lieutenant. He went on to become Marshal of the Air Force

  • Dakotas in Poonch 1947

    Refugees awaiting evacuation by IAF Dakota on Poonch airstrip, December 1947

  • Consolidated-Vultee B-24 Liberator heavy bomber over the Deccan plateau in the early 1950s

    An IAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber over the Deccan plateau in the early 1950s

  • IAF Hf24 flying in formation

    HAL HF-24 Maruts flying in formation. These were the first indigenous fighter jet to enter service with the IAF

  • PAF hangar at Dacca airfield after an air attack by the IAF, Dec 71

    PAF hangar at Dacca airfield after an IAF air attack, December 1971

  • The IAF strikes the enemy's rail communication in West Pakistan, Dec 71

    IAF attacking enemy rail facilities in West Pakistan, December 1971

  • Mig21 pair during 1971 war

    A pair of MiG-21s during the 1971 war

  • Indian Air Force Antonov An-32

    IAF An-32s were used to airdrop humanitarian supplies in Operation Poomalai

  • VayuBhawanDelhi

    Air Headquarters Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi

  • Garud Commandos of Indian Air Force (cropped)

    Garud Commandos

  • Hindustan Dhruv (3871115090)

    Sarang display team

  • IAF Uniform

    IAF officers in uniform

  • Indian Air Force-02-01

    French CCE and British DPM variant camouflage which is used by IAF

  • Indian Air Force Soldier guarding India Gate

    An IAF servicemember with uniform, shoulder rank patch and INSAS rifle standing guard at the India Gate memorial in New Delhi

  • Air Force station Sarsawa

    Airmen marching during Air Force Day celebration

  • Indian Air Force Rafale fighter

    Indian Air Force Rafale

  • HAL Tejas (LA-5020) of SQ18 Flying Bullets during Air Force Day 2021

    HAL Tejas

  • DRDO AEW&C Embraer ERJ 145

    An AEW&C Embraer ERJ 145

  • RK-3452 Indian Air Force

    An Ilyushin Il-78MKI at RIAT 2007

  • IAF-C-17

    Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

  • IAFBaeHawk

    IAF BAE Hawk Mk 132

  • Akash MK-1S missile test on 27 May 2019 - 1

    Akash missile

  • AMCA render by Satwik Sadhukhan

    HAL AMCA, 5th generation aircraft

  • HALTEDBFAeroindia2021

    HAL TEDBF, a twin engine based multirole combat aircraft

  • HAL LCA MK2

    HAL Tejas Mk2, a single seater, multirole combat aircraft

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Fuerza Aérea India para niños

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Indian Air Force Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.