According to the Global Air Power Rankings 2026 released by the World Defense Military Analysis (WDMMA), the Indian Air Force (IAF) is ranked as the 3rd most powerful air force globally.
The US Air Force leads the rankings with a TVR of 242.9 and a fleet of 5,004 aircraft, followed by Russia (2nd) and China (4th). When considering the combined air arms of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the IAF holds the 6th position with a True Value Rating (TVR) of 69.4.