Page 222 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

over the disputed region of Sir Creek. The aircraft was shot down killing all 16 Pakistani Navy
personnel on board. India claimed that the Atlantic was on a mission to gather information on IAF air
defence, a charge emphatically rejected by Pakistan which argued that the unarmed aircraft was on a
training mission.

Since the late 1990s, the Indian Air Force has been modernizing its fleet to counter challenges in

the new century. The fleet size of the IAF has decreased to 33 squadrons during this period because of
the retirement of older aircraft. Still, India maintains the fourth largest air force in the world. The
squadron strength is being raised to 42 squadrons.

Motto of the Indian Air Force

Touch the sky with glory - ‘Nabha Sparsham Deeptam’

Branches

Air Force has the following branches:-

Flying Branch

Engineering - Technical branch

Ground Duties Branch

Administration

Logistics

Accounts

Education

Meteorological

Medical and Dental Branch

Structure

Chief of the Air Staff with the rank of Air Chief Marshal is the Commander of the Indian Air Force.
He is assisted by six officers: a Vice Chief of the Air Staff, a Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, the Air
Officer in Charge of Administration, the Air Officer in Charge of Personnel, the Air Officer in Charge