The Indian air force is the fourth largest airforce in the world, having some of the best fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters. For dominance in a war, Transportation is equally important in comparison with any field, any delay in getting the equipment to the required place or failure to get it can be disastrous. The Indian air force has some of the best transport aircraft to help it ground troops . They provide ammunition, ration, equipment and also para drop troops into enemy territory. Below are some of the aircraft that the IAF uses:
1.C- 17 GLOBEMASTER
ORIGIN: United states
IN SERVICE FROM : 1995
SPEED: 0.74 MACH
CAPACITY: 102 paratroopers/134 troops side walled/tanks
PAYLOAD: 77,519 Kg
This US-made transport aircraft is the best in the world and India got this machine in June 2013. Nicked named as “skylord” the squadron of the Indian airforce is the front line for transportation of man and material. The aircraft is used for medical evacuation, Transporting tanks & guns, Para dropping or landing troops. The do the purpose of strategic airlifting in technical terms.
2. ILYUSHIN II-76
ORIGIN: Russian
IN SERVICE FROM: 1974
SPEED: 0.82 MACH
CAPACITY: 50000 Kg
PAYLOAD: 42 tonnes
This Russian transport aircraft is also a heavy lift aircraft that is used for strategic airlifts. The aircraft is ideal for short and unprepared airstrips and is designed to lift heavy machinery.There are many version of the aircraft that IAF uses for different purposes. They customised the aircraft to do the purpose of air to air refuelling, communication centre. A customised version of the II-76 serves as a platform for the IAF AWACS, it is called A-50.
3. C-130J SUPER HERCULES
ORIGIN: United states
IN SERVICE FROM: 1999
SPEED: 0.54 MACH
CAPACITY: 92 troops/ 64 paratroop/ 2-3 armoured carrier
PAYLOAD: 19,050Kg
Probably the best tactical transport aircraft in the world, the c130J is ideal for the special troops of the nation. These transport aircraft focus on delivering men and supply in forward area when the war is on. They have a very small airstrip to land and take off and the turnaround time is very less thus because of its speed it acts as a front line transporter. India landed a C130J in ladakh airstrip thus by making a new feat of taking and landing the aircraft in the highest airstrip of the world.
4. HS 748 HAWKER SIDDELEY
ORIGIN: United Kingdom
IN SERVICE FROM: 1961
SPEED: 0.3 MACH
CAPACITY: 40-58 passengers
PAYLOAD: 5136 Kg
The HS-748 is a transport aircraft built to transport troops and light ammunition. The fuselage was redesigned as per IAF specification and production was done by HAL. The HS748 is a STOL aircraft , ie short take off landing aircraft, thus highly useful to transport troops to the front.They were also used to mount the early warning system..These are being replaced by C-295s
5. ANTONOV An 32
ORIGIN: Russia
IN SERVICE FROM: 1976
SPEED: 0.26 MACH
CAPACITY: 42 paratroopers/ 50 troops/ 24 stretchers
PAYLOAD: 7.5 tonnes
The twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft is one of the powerful props fitted aircraft in the world. The aircraft was designed for the IAF to go through some hard transporting, bad weathers, thus, this made the aircraft one of the most durable in the world. The aircraft is right know going through some upgrades in avionic, comm system, oxygen system.The aircraft is ideal for medevac and VIP transport purposes .
6. DORNIER 228
ORIGIN: Germany
IN SERVICE FROM: 1982
SPEED: 029 MACH
CAPACITY: 19-25 Troops
PAYLOAD: 2340 Kg
Do-228 is a twin-turboprop utility aircraft made in India by HAL under licence of DORNIER. The aircraft has a short take-off landing. The aircraft is used to transport small contingent of troops, comm purposes, recon purposes etc. It is essentially used to deliver food and ration to troops in the war area. Since it is a STOL aircraft it can also be used for medevac purposes too.
7. Boeing 737
ORIGIN: United States
IN SERVICE FROM: 1968
SPEED: 0.82 MACH
CAPACITY: 38.9 m^3 cargo/ 250 passengers
PAYLOAD: 68000 Kg
The boiling 737 is a transport aircraft ideally used by IAF for officials / VIP transporting. Since it is used for transporting of high-level officials the 737 is fitted with some of the best radars and countermeasure techniques in the world, this includes radar jammers. The 737 is also used for cargo purposes, the cargo is to be light weighted and of specification adhere to the aircraft.
8.EADS CASA C-295
ORIGIN: Spain
IN SERVICE FROM: 2001
SPEED: 0.46 MACH
CAPACITY: 71 troops
PAYLOAD: 9250 Kg
c-295 are twin turbo military transport aircraft used for transporting personals. The aircraft can also be used to carry anti-ship missile and awacs upon redesigning. The aircraft is said to replace the HS- 748 of the IAF. India will buy 16 of them in fly-away condition and rest 40 will be produced by TATA advanced system.
9. EMBRAER LEGACY 600
ORIGIN: Brazil
IN SERVICE FROM: 2002
SPEED: 0.67 MACH
CAPACITY: 19 passengers
PAYLOAD: 22,500 Kg
The commercial jet Embraer 600 is basically a business jet made in brazil. The aircraft is used for the transportation of military officials and foreign dignitaries by the Indian air force.
10. UAC/ HAL I1- 214
ORIGIN: India- Russia
IN SERVICE FROM: 2017 (expected the first fight)
SPEED: 0.7 MACH
CAPACITY: 70-150 passengers
PAYLOAD: 20,000 Kg
The Indo-Russian collaboration comes ones again into play in the making of the 214 MTA ( multi-role transport aircraft) The aircraft is said to replace the An-32 over a period of time. The aircraft can be a high calibre cargo aircraft, with the design similar to that of II-76 but length will be shorter. The aircraft is expected to have a range of 2500 km and will act as a frontline of transport fleet.
With the rapid change in modern warfare, transportation of arms and personals is vital to hold the ground. The IAF transport fleet is one of the best in the world and puts the troops exactly where they want, at the time they want. With the new C130J coming in they will have advanced mapping technology as per DTTI which the previous ones did not, this enhances their ability to drop troops and equipment further in unknown territory. The Indian air force right now are in a comfort zone when it comes to the transportation zone, and the countries can rely upon them for delivering every time. The motto of 81 squadrons of the IAF says it all ” CAPABLE, POWERFUL, OMNIPRESENT”.
