Indian Air Force Ranks Third, Stays Ahead of China
The Indian Air Force has been placed sixth in the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft’s 2026 global ranking of individual military aviation services. When only national air forces are compared, India ranks third behind the United States and Russia and remains ahead of China.
Indian Air Force Ranks Ahead of China
The Indian Air Force received a TrueValue Rating of 69.4, while China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force scored 63.8 and was placed seventh in the overall list.
This is the fifth consecutive year that the assessment has ranked the IAF above China’s air force.
The overall table includes separate aviation branches of the same country. The US Air Force occupies the top position, while other American services, including naval and army aviation, also appear above India.
Therefore, the IAF is sixth among all military aviation services but third when the comparison is restricted to national air forces.
WDMMA Air Power Ranking Methodology
The ranking does not assess air power solely through the total number of aircraft operated by each service.
It considers fleet composition, aircraft modernity, combat capability, logistical support, training, industrial capacity, force balance and access to specialised platforms such as tankers, transport aircraft and surveillance systems.
India’s diversified fighter fleet, operational experience, transport capability and domestic defence industry contributed to its position above China despite Beijing operating more aircraft.
IAF Modernisation Challenges Remain
The ranking does not eliminate concerns about the IAF’s declining fighter-squadron strength and dependence on ageing aircraft.
India is modernising its fleet through additional Rafale fighters, Tejas aircraft, upgraded Su-30MKIs and the planned Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme.
China continues to expand its fleet of advanced fighters, including the J-20, while investing heavily in drones, missiles and support aircraft. The ranking therefore represents one private assessment rather than a definitive measure of combat outcomes.
