Indian Air Force Ranks 6th Among World's Strongest Air Forces, Ahead of China for Fifth Consecutive Year
The Siliguri Today
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July 12, 2026 • 4:19 PM
Indian Air Force Ranks 6th Among World's Strongest Air Forces, Ahead of China for Fifth Consecutive Year
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been ranked as the world's sixth most powerful air force, according to the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA).
The IAF is placed behind the US Air Force, US Navy, Russian Air Force, US Army, and US Marine Corps. China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is ranked seventh, while the Pakistan Air Force is in 18th place.
Notably, this marks the fifth consecutive year—since 2022—that the IAF has been ranked ahead of China's PLAAF, highlighting India's growing air power on the global stage.
