India overtakes China in world air force ranking: Newsweek
In a stunning shift in global military power, India has leapfrogged China to claim the title of the third most powerful air force in the world, reports Newsweek.
While the United States continues to dominate, followed by Russia, India's rise signals a dramatic recalibration in Asia's strategic balance, the report said.
China, long considered a major air power, now ranks fourth. The latest World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) rankings cover 103 countries and 129 air services—including army, navy, and marine aviation branches—and track a total of 48,082 aircraft worldwide.
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Newsweek has reached out to the State Department as well as the Foreign Ministries of China and India for comment.
Why It Matters
Air power remains a decisive factor in global military strategy. The United States continues to lead, with its air capabilities surpassing the combined fleets of Russia, China, India, South Korea, and Japan. This dominance is supported by nearly 40 percent of global military expenditure concentrated in the United States.
At the same time, nations such as India and China are rapidly modernising their air forces amid rising geopolitical tensions. Janes, a leading global open-source defence intelligence provider, projects that global defence spending could rise by 3.6 per cent by the end of the year, reaching approximately $2.56 trillion. This continued growth reflects intensified conflicts and strategic realignments worldwide, emphasising the crucial role of air power in both modern warfare and international deterrence.
What To Know
India's air force now ranks sixth globally, with a TruVal Rating (TVR) of 69.4. This rating evaluates not only the quantity of aircraft but also factors such as attack and defence capabilities, logistical support, modernisation and operational training. In its fleet of 1,716 units, India maintains a balanced force composition: 31.6 per cent fighters, 29 per cent helicopters, and 21.8 per cent trainers. The Indian Air Force (IAF) sources its equipment from a diverse range of countries, including the U.S. and Russia, reflecting its complex geopolitical positioning.
The operational effectiveness of India's air force was notably demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes carried out in May on infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Conducted in response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the operation showcased India's ability to swiftly engage and neutralise threats beyond its borders. The mission underscored the IAF's enhanced precision, coordination and strategic reach, reflecting its growing air superiority in the region.
