Quality over quantity: How India’s Air Force overtakes China in global rankings explainer news

India has officially overtaken China to become the world’s third most powerful air force, marking a significant shift in the military balance in Asia. According to the latest rankings of the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA), the Indian Air Force has overtaken China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force in overall strength, not based on fleet size, but based on what really matters in modern warfare: operational capability, readiness, training and technological balance.

This new situation comes at a time when global tensions are rising, especially in Asia, and it follows India’s demonstration of air dominance during the recent Operation Sindoor. With air superiority playing an increasingly central role in determining the outcome of modern wars, India’s rise in the rankings is more than symbolic; This is strategic.

Where does India stand in the latest global rankings?

According to WDMMA, the US remains the most powerful air force in the world with a TruVal rating of 242.9. Russia is in second place with a score of 114.2. India is now in third place with a rating of 69.4, ahead of China, which is in fourth place with a score of 63.8.

The next countries in the ranking are Japan (58.1), Israel (56.3) and France (55.3).

Unlike some other indices, the WDMMA compares national air forces rather than individual military branches, offering a more holistic view of a country’s air dominance.

What is the WDMMA, and how does it rank the Air Force?

The WDMMA is an internationally recognized directory that evaluates military air power in 103 countries and 129 air services, including those operated by the Navy, Army, and Marine Corps. It tracks a total of more than 48,000 aircraft globally. The ranking is based on a proprietary index called the TruVal Rating, which goes beyond simply counting aircraft. It affects combat readiness, attack and defense capabilities, logistics support, modernization levels, pilot training and overall mission performance.

How did India overtake China in air power ranking?

On paper, China has more aircraft. The Chinese Air Force reportedly has a fleet of 3,733 aircraft compared to India’s 1,716. However, the TruVal rating is designed to assess qualitative aspects of military capability, and this is where India has stepped up.

India’s high ranking has been attributed to its focus on training, close air support and specialized bomber units, which contribute directly to combat performance. While China is investing heavily in developing advanced platforms such as the fifth-generation J-20 and J-35 fighters and has unveiled a prototype of the sixth-generation jet, India has prioritized pilot preparation, flexible deployment and rapid mission execution.

India’s air fleet is also more evenly distributed. According to WDMMA, 31.6 percent of the Indian Air Force’s aircraft are fighters, 29 percent are helicopters, and 21.8 percent are trainers. This proliferation enables operational flexibility in combat, logistics and humanitarian scenarios. In contrast, China’s air fleet consists of 52.9 percent combat aircraft and 28.4 percent trainers, reflecting a more fighter-heavy approach.

How Operation Sindoor proved India’s air superiority

India’s growing advantage was not merely theoretical; It was tried and tested on the battlefield during Operation Sindoor in May this year. Launched in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, the operation involved precision strikes on multiple targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to Lieutenant General Rajeev Ghai, the Indian Army’s Director General of Military Operations, Pakistan “lost more than 100 military personnel, as well as at least 12 aircraft, during the four-day clash.” This operation demonstrated India’s ability to execute coordinated missions quickly and effectively even in hostile airspace.

Pakistan had deployed Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets armed with PL-15E air-to-air missiles and HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile systems. However, these systems were unable to stop Indian attacks. Indian missiles penetrated air defenses dependent on Chinese technology. Bilal Khan, founder of Toronto-based Kuva Defense News and Analysis Group, told AFP It appears that “Chinese air-defense systems are not as effective as the Pakistan Air Force had hoped.”

How is India modernizing its air force?

India’s current air dominance is the result of years of deliberate modernization and strategic investment. The Indian Air Force today operates a mix of French Rafale jets, Russian-origin Su-30MKIs and MiG-29s, and India’s own Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. The Soviet-era MiG-21s, which were once the backbone of the force, were recently retired after more than six decades of service.

Looking to the future, India plans to induct more than 600 aircraft in the next two decades. These include 180 LCA Mk1A fighters, more than 120 LCA Mk2s, 114 multi-role fighters and at least 120 fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has said India is also exploring limited imports of fifth-generation fighter aircraft as an interim measure until the AMCA is ready, possibly choosing between the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35.

India is also increasing investment in modern helicopters, UAVs and aerial surveillance systems as part of a broader shift towards network-centric and multi-domain warfare. This effort is complemented by increasing interoperability with partners such as France and the United States.

How does India’s rise compare globally?

Air power has become one of the most decisive factors in modern warfare, with recent conflicts showing that numerical strength alone does not guarantee dominance in the skies. While the United States remains unmatched, supporting about 40 percent of global military spending, other countries have faced limitations despite having larger fleets.

For example, Russia has struggled to establish air superiority over Ukraine, even after more than three years of war, underscoring the importance of training, strategy, and integrated capability.

In contrast, small but highly organized air forces have produced rapid and decisive results. During Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, Israel reportedly achieved air superiority over Iran within four days, even though Tehran is nearly 1,000 miles from Israel’s nearest airbase. The mission highlighted how coordination, precision and technological edge can compensate for distance and risk.

India’s Operation Sindoor has also attracted similar attention. Conducted in response to a major terror attack, the four-day mission demonstrated India’s ability to strike across borders with speed, accuracy and minimal losses. It not only underlined the technical capabilities of the Indian Air Force but also its preparedness, intelligence coordination and rapid mobilization. The operation is being cited as an example of how emerging air powers can deliver strategic results without relying on overwhelming quantities of aircraft.

Why are these rankings more important than ever?

While broader indices such as the Global Firepower Index assess overall military capability, the WDMMA focuses only on air power. India’s rise to third place signals a deep realignment of military power across Asia. It also confirms India’s growing influence in shaping the strategic framework from South Asia to the Indo-Pacific.

With its expanding fleet, doctrine-driven training and a mature domestic aerospace sector, the Indian Air Force is no longer simply a regional air arm. It is emerging as a key component of India’s global strategic profile.