The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates seven Air Commands. Each command is headed by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the rank of Air Marshal.
The IAF currently has over 60 air stations all over India. These are grouped into seven commands: Western Air Command at New Delhi, Delhi; Eastern Air Command at Shillong, Meghalaya; Central Air Command at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh; Southern Air Command at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; South Western Air Command at Gandhinagar, Gujarat; Training Command at Bengaluru, Karnataka, and Maintenance Command at Nagpur, Maharashtra. The largest transport airbase is in Hindon, Uttar Pradesh.
Gwalior hosts the IAF's elite Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), a premier unit for advanced fighter pilot training in aerial tactics, a counterpart to the US Navy's TOPGUN, focusing on operational doctrines and tactics for aircraft. It is also a specialized Ground attack and Air Superiority base.
There are a number of new air stations being built across India, in line with India's strategic doctrine. The Indian Navy has some separate air stations for its aviation wing.
Western Air Command is the largest air command. It operates 16 airforce stations in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Eastern Air Command operates 15 airforce stations in eastern and north-eastern India. Central Air Command operates two airforce stations in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and surrounding states of central India. Southern Air Command's tasks include protecting vital shipping routes. It operates nine air stations in Southern India and two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. South Western Air Command is the front line of defence against Pakistan. This important command operates 12 air stations in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
List of air stations
Note: Station and unit details are from Scramble.nl (2009) and outdated.Scramble.nl, Indian Air Force Order of Battle , accessed October 2011 Article needs to be revised/updated.
Station ICAO Runway Elevation Geographical coordinates State/territory WingSquadronsAircraftWestern Air Command Adampur AFS VIAX 13/31 775 ft / 236 m Punjab 8th WingNo. 47 Squadron No. 223 Squadron IAFMikoyan MiG-29 Ambala AFS VIAM 12L/30R12R/30L 900 ft / 274 m Haryana 7 WingNo. 5 Squadron No. 14 Squadron
No. 17 Squadron
14 Sqn Missile and UAV Squadron
2209 & Squadron 2251SSEPECAT Jaguar Dassault Rafale Amritsar AFS VIAR 16/34 755 ft / 230 m Punjab 1 FBSU - - Awantipur AFS VIAW 12/30 5,400 ft / 1,646 m Jammu & Kashmir 8 FBSU - - Bathinda AFS VIBT 13/31 700 ft /213 m Punjab 34 WingNo. 17 SquadronDassault Rafale Chandigarh AFS VICG 11/29 1,012 ft / 308 m Chandigarh 12 Wing/3 BRDNo. 44 Squadron No. 48 Squadrons
No. 126 Helicopter FlightTransport: Antonov An-32 Ilyushin Il-76
Helicopters:
Mil Mi-26
Boeing CH-47 Chinook Gurugram AFS Logistics base Haryana IFC and IMAC.Indian Navy launches Information Fusion Centre to boost maritime security, The Week, 22 December 2018.Defence minister inaugurates Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) in Gurgaon , GKToday. - - Faridabad AFS Logistics base Haryana 54 ASP, 56th Air Storage Park, Guard dog training.1980, "Haryana Review", Volume 14, Page 47.2017, Fridabad disaster management plan, Govt of Haryana, p23.13 Nov 2016, Ground Threat for air warriors, Times of India.1991, Sainik Samachar: The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces, p26. - - Halwara AFS VIHX 13/31 790 ft / 241 m Punjab 9 WingNo. 220 Squadron IAF No. 221 Squadron IAFSukhoi Su-30MKI Hindon AFS VIDX 09/27 700 ft / 213 m Uttar Pradesh 28 WingNo. 77 Squadron No. 131 Helicopter Flight
No. 181 Flight
No. 129 Helicopter Unit
No. 81 Squadron IAFTransport: C130J Super Hurcules
Hawker Siddeley HS 748
Boeing 737-200
Helicopters:
HAL Cheetah
Mil Mi-17
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Vadsar AFS AFS - - Gujarat 47 Signal Unit - -Jammu AFSVIJU18/361029 ft / 314 mJammu & Kashmir23 WingNo. 153 Helicopter Unit No. 154 Helicopter Unit
No. 132 Helicopter Flight
No. 223 Squadron IAFHelicopters: Mil Mi-17
HAL Cheetah
Combat Jets:
Mikoyan MiG-29 Leh AFS VILH 06/2407R/25L07L/25R 10,682 ft/ 3,256 m Ladakh 21 WingNo. 114 Helicopter Unit No. 130 Helicopter UnitMil Mi-17 HAL CheetahMudh-Nyoma AFS12/3013,700 ft/ 4,200 mLadakh Palam AFS VIDP 09/2710/28 776 ft / 237 m Delhi 3 WingNo. 41 Squadron Air HQ Communication Squadron, Indian Air ForceHawker Siddeley HS 748 Dornier 228
777-300ER
Boeing 737 BBJ
Embraer 145
Embraer 135
Mil Mi-17 Pathankot AFS VIPK 01/19 1,017 ft / 310 m Punjab 18 WingNo. 125 Helicopter Squadron No. 137 Helicopter SquadronHelicopters: AH-64 Apache
(operated by both the squadrons) Sarsawa AFS VISP 09/27 891 ft / 272 m Uttar Pradesh 30 WingNo. 117 Helicopter Unit No. 152 Helicopter UnitMil Mi-17 HAL Dhruv Sirsa AFS VISX 05/23 650 ft / 198 m Haryana 45 Wing Srinagar AFS VISR 13/31 5,458 ft / 1,664 m Jammu & Kashmir 1 WingNo. 223 Squadron No. 154 Helicopter Unit, IAFMikoyan MiG-29 Mil Mi-17 Udhampur AFS VIUX 18/36 1,950 ft / 594 m Jammu & Kashmir HQ AOC J&K 39 WingNo. 132 Helicopter FlightHAL CheetahEastern Air Command Purnea AFS VEPU 18/36 412 ft / 125 m Bihar 14 FBSU - - Bagdogra AFS VEBD 18/36 412 ft / 125 m West Bengal 20 WingNo. 156 Helicopter UnitMil Mi-17 Barapani AFS VEBI 04/22 2910 ft / 886 m Meghalaya Barrackpore AFS VEBR 02/20 18 ft / 5 m West Bengal 6 WingNo. 157 Helicopter UnitMil Mi-17 Chabua AFS VECA 05/23 350 ft / 107 m Assam 14 WingNo. 102 SquadronSukhoi Su-30MKI Hasimara AFS VEHX 11L/29R11R/29L 340 ft /104 m West Bengal 16 WingNo. 101 Squadron IAFDassault Rafale Jorhat AFS VEJT 04/22 284 ft / 87 m Assam 10 WingNo. 43 Squadron No. 49 SquadronAntonov An-32 Kalaikunda AFS VEDX 17/35 200 ft / 60 m West Bengal 5 Wing 18 Squadron, OCU MiG-27, MiG-21 Kumbhigram AFS VEKU 06/24 352 ft / 107 m Assam 22 WingNo. 110 Helicopter UnitMil Mi-8 Mohanbari AFS VEMN 05/23 361 ft / 110 m Assam 42 WingNo. 127 Helicopter Unit No. 128 Helicopter UnitMil Mi-17 Mountain Shadow AFS VEGT 05/23 350 ft / 107 m Assam Panagarh AFS VEPH 15/33 240 ft / 73 m West Bengal 62 SU, 87 SquadronNo. 87 SquadronC-130J Super HerculesSalua AFSWest BengalRadar station Tawang AFSVETW 8,756 ft / 2,669 m Arunachal Pradesh Tezpur AFS VETZ 04/22 240 ft / 73 m Assam 11 WingNo. 2 Squadron No. 106 SquadronSukhoi Su-30MKICentral Air Command Agra AFS VIAG 05/2312/30 551 ft 167 m Uttar Pradesh 4 WingNo. 12 Squadron No. 78 Squadron No. 50 SquadronTransport: Antonov An-32
Ilyushin Il-78
AEW&C:
Beriev A-50 Bakshi Ka Talab AFS VIBL 09/27 385 ft/ 117 m Uttar PradeshAD Flight Bamrauli AFS VEAB 06/2412/30 322 ft/ 98 m Uttar Pradesh 29 Wing Bareilly AFS VIBY 11/29 565 ft/ 172 m Uttar Pradesh 15 WingNo. 111 Helicopter Unit No. 24 Squadron No. 8 SquadronHelicopters: HAL Dhruv
Combat Jets:
Sukhoi Su-30MKI Bihta AFS 07/25 52 ft 170 m Bihar Chakeri AFS VICX 01/1909/27 410 ft/124 m Uttar Pradesh Darbhanga AFS VEDH 14/28 21 ft / 38 m Bihar Gorakhpur AFS VEGK 11/29 259 ft / 78 m Uttar Pradesh 17 WingNo. 16 Squadron No. 27 Squadron No. 105 Helicopter UnitCombat Jets: SEPECAT Jaguar
Helicopters:
Mil Mi-17 Gwalior AFS VIGR 06/24 617 ft / 188 m Madhya Pradesh 40 WingNo. 1 SquadronNo. 7 SquadronNo. 9 SquadronElite Training School: TACDE Fighter Jets: Dassault Mirage 2000Southern Air Command Car Nicobar AFS VOCX 02/20 42 ft / 13 m Andaman & Nicobar Islands 37 Wing Sulur AFS VOSX 05/23 1,250 ft / 381 m Tamil Nadu 43 Wing 5 BRD 24 TETTRA School 6 AFH109 HU No. 33 Squadron
No. 45 SquadronTransport: Antonov An-32
Helicopters: Mil Mi-17
Combat Jets:
HAL Tejas Port Blair AFS VOPB 04/22 16 m /5 m Andaman & Nicobar Islands Tambaram AFS VOTX 05/2312/30 90 ft / 27 m Tamil Nadu Thanjavur AFS VOTJ 07/25 253 ft / 77 m Tamil Nadu 47 WingNo. 222 SquadronSukhoi Su-30MKISouth Western Air CommandSuratgarh AFSVISG05/23560 ft / 170 mRajasthan35 WingNo. 104 Helicopter SquadronHelicopters: Mil Mi-35 Bhuj AFS VABJ 05/23 268 ft / 82 m Gujarat 27 Wing Deesa AFS VADS 06/24 485 ft / 148 m Gujarat 52 Wing Jaisalmer AFS VIJR 04/22 887 ft / 270 m Rajasthan 41 Wing Jamnagar AFS VAJM 06/2412/30 69 ft / 21 m Gujarat 33 WingNo. 6 Squadron No. 28 Squadron Jodhpur AFS VIJO 05/23 717 ft / 219 m Rajasthan 32 WingNo. 31 Squadron
No. 107 Helicopter Unit No. 116 Helicopter Unit No. 143 Helicopter UnitCombat Jets : Sukhoi 30Mki Helicopters: Mil Mi-17 HAL Rudra HAL Chetak HAL Prachand Lohegaon AFS VAPO 10/2814/32 1,942 ft / 592 m Maharashtra 2 WingNo. 20 Squadron No. 30 Squadron Nal-Bikaner AFS VIBK 05/23 750 ft / 229 m Rajasthan 46 WingNo. 3 Squadron No. 23 SquadronMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Naliya AFSVANY 06/24 68 ft / 21 m Gujarat49 WingNo. 18 SquadronHAL Tejas Phalodi AFS 05/23 700 ft / 213 m Rajasthan 35 WingNo. 23 Squadron 104 Helicopter Squadron Uttarlai AFS VIUT 02/20 500 ft / 152 m Rajasthan 5 FBSUNo. 4 Squadron Makarpura AFS VABO 04/22127 ft / 38.7 m Gujarat 36 WingNo. 11 Squadron No. 25 SquadronTraining Command Begumpet AFS VOHY 09/2714/32 1,741 ft / 531 m Telangana Bidar AFS VOBR 02/2008/26 2,178 ft / 663 m Karnataka Dundigal AFS VODG 10L/28R10R/28L 2,013 ft / 614 m Telangana Hakimpet AFS VOHK 09/27 2,020 ft / 616 m Telangana Yelahanka AFS VOYK 09/27 3,045 ft / 928 m Karnataka Admin Training Inst, Sambra, Belgaum 2,500 ft / 762 m KarnatakaMaintenance Command Nagpur AFS VANP 09/2714/32 1,012 ft /308 m Maharashtra 44 Wing Ojhar AFS VAOZ 08/26 1,900 ft / 579 m Maharashtra 11 BRDChandigarh AFSVICG11/291,012 ft / 308 mChandigarh12 Wing/3 BRDKanpur AFSVECX09/27410 ft / 126 mUttar Pradesh1 BRD/4 BRDDevlali AFSMaharashtraHelicopter Maintenance Unit The other Air Force stations that come under Maintenance Command are not air stations and are mostly signal units and station repair depots situated in different towns. Delhi, for example, has a few BRDs and SUs that come under Maintenance Command.
List of advance landing grounds
Along China border
The Chinese Military has an integrated Western Theater Command across the LAC with India. The Indian military has divided the LAC into 3 sectors - the Western Sector across Ladakh and Chinese-held Aksai Chin, the Central Sector across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand states, and the Eastern Sector across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Similarly, the Indian Airforce has the Delhi-based Western Air Command, Prayagraj-based Central Air Command, and Shillong-based Eastern Air Command to cover the LAC.
Ladakh Daulat Beg Oldi ALG, serves the Trans-Karakoram Tract (Shaksgam), Aksai Chin and the Siachen Glacier. Kargil Airport ALG Fukche ALG, serves the Demchok sector. Padum ALG, serves Ladakh LAC and Kargil LOC as a second line of defence airport. Thoise ALGParma valley ALG, cogitasia.com. Parma Valley ALG near Chushul (to be reactivated). Himachal Pradesh has a 250 km border with Tibet (China). Shimla Airport, civil airport available for military use. Serves the Kaurik, Tashigang-Shipki La and Nelang-Pulam Sumda disputed area. Kullu-Manali Airport, civil airport available for military use. Serves the Kaurik, Tashigang, Shipki La, and Nelang-Pulam Sumda disputed area. Kibber-Rangrik, surveyed as of July 2020, construction was approved in January 2023 to be completed by 2024–25. Will be the closest ALG to Chumar, Kaurik, and Tashigang-Shipki La disputed area. Uttarakhand has a 350 km border with Tibet. Chinyalisaur Airport ALG serves the disputed Barahoti and Nelang-Pulam Sumda sectors. ITBP has 42 BoPs (border outposts) in Barahoti sector and Mana Pass area (Nelang-Pulam Sumda sector). Pithoragarh Airport ALG serves the disputed Kalapani territory. Gauchar Airport ALG. Sikkim Pakyong Airport AGL serves the Doklam disputed area. Arunachal Pradesh Aalo ALG, formerly Along. Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground. Pasighat ALG Tawang Air Force Station Tuting ALG Vijoynagar ALG Walong Advanced Landing Ground. Ziro ALG Daporijo ALG. Alinye ALG, Dibang Valley District.