India's Airpower Rise: A Double Edged Sword for New Delhi The Indian Air Force (IAF) has surpassed China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) rankings, placing third globally in terms of airpower for the fifth time since 2022.
This achievement is a source of national pride but also highlights significant gaps within India's air force. The WDMMA rankings emphasize fleet composition and special capabilities.
The IAF has a large number of helicopters – nearly 30% of its total aircraft count – compared to other top ranked air forces, including the United States Air Force (USAF).