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Air Force Events ·🇮🇳 India

India Air Force Losses, Crashes & Deliveries

Recorded aircraft losses, crashes, shoot-downs and deliveries for the India air force, each with a date and source. See the India air force overview.

Events at a glance

Events per year 2022–2026
2022 — 0 events 0 2022 2023 — 9 events 9 2023 2024 — 5 events 5 2024 2025 — 16 events 16 2025 2026 to 16 Sep — 7 events 7 2026

2026 is a partial year: the bars run to 16 Sep 2026.

By event type 37 events logged · 29 losses
  • Shot down 6
  • Crash 23
  • Ordered 4
  • Delivered 3
  • Retired 1

These totals count what GlobalMilitary.net has logged from public reports since 2022, not a complete register: an event we have not recorded is not an event that did not happen. Coverage of the tracked wars is much denser than coverage of peacetime events, so the two do not compare directly.

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India air force losses, crashes & deliveries

  1. AUG 172026 2× MQ-9B SeaGuardian Ordered 🇮🇳 India · Thirty-month lease of two more MQ-9B SeaGuardian signed with General Atomics for 19.43 billion rupees; brings the Indian Navy's leased fleet to four pending the 2029 deliveries of the 31 aircraft ordered in 2024.
  2. JUN 132026 An-32 Crash 🇮🇳 India · An-32 of 43 Squadron crashed while landing at Jorhat Air Force Station, Assam; aircraft caught fire, 5 personnel killed, co-pilot survived.
  3. MAY 202026 Cheetah Crash 🇮🇳 India · Cheetah helicopter crashed in Tangtse sector, Ladakh; all three onboard including a major general survived with minor injuries.
  4. MAR 52026 Su-30 Crash 🇮🇳 India · Crashed on hilltop near Karbi Anglong during training sortie from Jorhat; both pilots killed.
  5. FEB 122026 114× Rafale DH/EH Ordered 🇮🇳 India · DAC approved purchase of 114 Rafale F4 jets; 18 fly-away, 96 assembled in India.
  6. FEB 72026 Tejas Crash 🇮🇳 India · Tejas overshot runway at forward airbase along western front due to suspected brake failure; pilot injured but survived.
  7. JAN 212026 Pipistrel Virus SW80 Crash 🇮🇳 India · Microlight crashed into pond near KP College, Prayagraj during training; both crew rescued safely.
  8. DEC 172025 3× AH-64E Delivered 🇮🇳 India · Final batch of 3 AH-64E Apaches delivered completing fleet of 6 for 451 Army Aviation Squadron.
  9. NOV 212025 Tejas Crash 🇮🇳 India · An Indian Air Force Tejas crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow; the pilot was killed.
  10. NOV 142025 PC-7 Mk II Crash 🇮🇳 India · PC-7 Mk II crashed during a routine training flight near Chennai; the pilot ejected and survived.
  11. SEP 262025 36× MiG-21 Retired 🇮🇳 India · India retires its last 36 MiG-21 Bison at Chandigarh, ending 62 years of service.
  12. AUG 22025 C295 Delivered 🇮🇳 India · India received the final of 16 C-295 transports from Spain.
  13. MAY 72025 Rafale DH/EH Shot down 🇮🇳 India · One Rafale shot down by a Pakistanese J-10 figher during operation Sindoor.
  14. MAY 72025 MiG-29 Shot down 🇮🇳 India · One MiG-29 Fulcrum claimed to be shot down by a Pakistanese J-10 figher during operation Sindoor.
  15. MAY 72025 Su-30 Shot down 🇮🇳 India · One Su-30MKI claimed to be shot down by a Pakistanese J-10 figher during operation Sindoor.
  16. MAY 72025 Rafale EH Shot down 🇮🇳 India · Rafale (callsign "Godzilla 4", tail BS001) crashed at Akalia Kalan, Bathinda, Punjab while returning to Ambala Air Force Station after Operation Sindoor strikes. Pakistan attributed the engagement to PAF No. 15 Squadron J-10C fighters with PL-15 missiles. The Washington Post …
  17. MAY 72025 Mirage 2000 Shot down 🇮🇳 India · Mirage 2000 wreckage, including an external fuel tank identified by independent experts, found at Wuyan in Pampore, Indian-administered Kashmir, ~130 km from the Pakistani border.
  18. MAY 72025 MiG-29 (likely) Shot down 🇮🇳 India · Third crash site identified by The Washington Post at Akhnoor, Indian-administered Kashmir. Visual experts could not conclusively determine the aircraft type from available imagery; subsequent reporting indicated the wreckage was likely a MiG-29.
  19. APR 292025 26× Rafale M Ordered 🇮🇳 India · India signs a contract for 26 Rafale M carrier fighters for the Indian Navy.
  20. APR 22025 Jaguar M/S Crash 🇮🇳 India · Jaguar hit technical trouble on a night mission out of Jamnagar.
  21. MAR 72025 Jaguar M/S Crash 🇮🇳 India · Jaguar destroyed during a training exercise in Panchkula district after a technical malfunction; pilot ejected safely.
  22. MAR 72025 An-32 Crash 🇮🇳 India · An-32 destroyed on landing at Bagdogra Airport; no fatalities.
  23. FEB 62025 Mirage 2000TH/TI Crash 🇮🇳 India · Mirage 2000 crashed during a routine sortie, due to system malfunction.
  24. NOV 42024 MiG-29 Crash 🇮🇳 India · The Indian Air Force said a MiG-29 crashed near Agra after a technical malfunction; the pilot ejected safely.
  25. SEP 22024 MiG-29 Crash 🇮🇳 India · The Indian Air Force said a MiG-29 crashed near Barmer after a technical fault; the pilot ejected safely.
  26. JUN 42024 Su-30 Crash 🇮🇳 India · Local authorities reported both crew ejected safely when the post-overhaul Su-30 test flight crashed near Shirasgaon.
  27. MAR 122024 Tejas Crash 🇮🇳 India · Crashed near Jaisalmer during training; the Air Force said the pilot ejected safely.
  28. FEB 132024 Hawk 132 Crash 🇮🇳 India · Crashed near Kalaikunda during training; the Air Force said both pilots ejected safely.
  29. DEC 42023 PC-7 Mk II Crash 🇮🇳 India · Crashed near Toopran during a routine training sortie from the Air Force Academy; the Indian Air Force confirmed both pilots died.
  30. SEP 132023 C295 Delivered 🇮🇳 India · Airbus handed over the first of 56 C295 transports to the Indian Air Force in fly-away condition at Seville.
  31. JUN 12023 Kiran (HJT-16) Crash 🇮🇳 India · Crashed near Bhogapura during routine training; both pilots ejected safely.
  32. MAY 82023 MiG-21 Crash 🇮🇳 India · Crashed at Bahlol Nagar in Rajasthan; the pilot ejected and three people on the ground died.
  33. MAY 42023 Dhruv ALH/Rudra Crash 🇮🇳 India · Crashed beside the Marua River near Kishtwar; one crew member later died and two were injured.
  34. MAR 162023 SA315 Crash 🇮🇳 India · Cheetah light helicopter lost contact and crashed near Mandala, west of Bomdila, during an operational sortie; both pilots killed.
  35. MAR 72023 70× HTT-40 Ordered 🇮🇳 India · India signed a contract for 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft.
  36. JAN 282023 Mirage 2000H/I Crash 🇮🇳 India · A Mirage 2000 crashed during an operational training mission, killing its pilot.
  37. JAN 282023 Su-30 Crash 🇮🇳 India · A Su-30MKI crashed in Madhya Pradesh during an operational training mission; both crew members ejected safely.