<Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Indian Air Force </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> The Crest of the Indian Air Force </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Founded </Th> <Td> 8 October 1932; 85 years ago (1932 - 10 - 08) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Country </Th> <Td> India </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Type </Th> <Td> Air force </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Role </Th> <Td> Aerial warfare </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Size </Th> <Td> 139,576 active personnel Approx . 1,720 + aircraft </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Part of </Th> <Td> Indian Armed Forces </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Headquarters </Th> <Td> New Delhi </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Motto (s) </Th> <Td> नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम् (Sanskrit) IAST: Nabhaḥ Spr̥śaṁ Dīptam (Touch the Sky with Glory) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Colour </Th> <Td> Navy blue, sky blue & white </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Anniversaries </Th> <Td> Air Force Day: 8 October </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Engagements </Th> <Td> Notable operations (show) <Ul> <Li> World War II </Li> <Li> Indo - Pakistani War of 1947 </Li> <Li> Congo Crisis </Li> <Li> Operation Vijay </Li> <Li> Sino - Indian War </Li> <Li> Indo - Pakistani War of 1965 </Li> <Li> Bangladesh Liberation War </Li> <Li> Operation Meghdoot </Li> <Li> Operation Poomalai </Li> <Li> Operation Pawan </Li> <Li> Operation Cactus </Li> <Li> Kargil War </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> indianairforce.nic.in </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Commanders </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) </Th> <Td> Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM, ADC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) </Th> <Td> Air Marshal Shirish Baban Deo, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, VM, ADC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Notable commanders </Th> <Td> Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Insignia </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Air Force Ensign </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Roundel </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Fin flash </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Aircraft flown </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Attack </Th> <Td> Jaguar, MiG - 27, Harpy </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Electronic warfare </Th> <Td> A-50E / I, DRDO AEW&CS </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Fighter </Th> <Td> Su - 30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG - 29, MiG - 21, HAL Tejas </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Helicopter </Th> <Td> Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi - 8, Mi - 17, Mi - 26, Mi - 25 / 35, HAL Light Combat Helicopter, HAL Rudra </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Reconnaissance </Th> <Td> Searcher II, Heron </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Trainer </Th> <Td> Hawk Mk 132, HJT - 16 Kiran, Pilatus C - 7 Mk II </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Transport </Th> <Td> C - 130J, C - 17 Globemaster III, Il - 76, An - 32, HS 748, Do 228, Boeing 737, ERJ 135 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Tanker </Th> <Td> Il - 78 MKI </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Indian Air Force </Th> </Tr>

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