Indian Air Force ranks and insignia

Equivalent ranks of Indian military
	Commissioned ranks
	Junior commissioned ranks
	Non-commissioned ranks
	Footnotes
	^ Risaldar major in cavalry and armoured regiments ; ^ Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments ; ^ Naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments.; Called jemadar until 1965. ;

The Indian Air Force's rank structure is based on that of the Royal Air Force. The highest rank attainable in the Indian Air Force is Marshal of the Indian Air Force, conferred by the President of India after exceptional service during wartime. MIAF Arjan Singh was the only officer to have achieved this rank. The head of the Indian Air Force is the Chief of the Air Staff, who holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal. The current Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, appointed on 31 December 2016, following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.

Officer ranks

The following table shows the officer rank insignia for the Indian Air Force. Even though India is not a NATO country, the NATO ranking codes are given for comparison with other nations' military ranks (see Air force officer rank insignia for more information).

Equivalent ranks of Indian Armed Forces (click to enlarge)

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Indian Air Force^[1] v t e
Indian Air Force^[1] v t e	Marshal of the Indian Air Force मार्शल ऑफ द इंडियन एयरफोर्स		Air chief marshal एयर चीफ मार्शल		Air marshal एयर मार्शल		Air vice marshal एयर वाइस मार्शल		Air commodore एयर कमोडोर		Group captain ग्रुप कैप्टन		Wing commander विंग कमांडर		Squadron leader स्क्वाड्रन लीडर		Flight lieutenant फ्लाइट लैफ्टिनेंट		Flying officer फ्लाइंग अफसर						Flight cadet फ्लाइट कैडेट

The IAF rank of pilot officer is a rank in abeyance in the Air Force and is no longer in force, all officers begin as flying officers upon commissioning.

Junior commissioned officer and non-commissioned ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Indian Air Force^[2] v t e																																			No insignia
Indian Air Force^[2] v t e	Master warrant officer मास्टर वारंट अफसर						Warrant officer वारंट अफसर		Junior warrant officer जूनियर वारंट अफसर		Sergeant सार्जेंट												Corporal कॉरपोरल						Leading aircraftsman लीडिंग एयरक्राफ्ट्समैन						Aircraftsman एयरक्राफ्ट्समैन

References

^ "For Officers". careerairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
^ "For Airmen". careerairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.

[submaj-2] Risaldar major in cavalry and armoured regiments

[sub-3] Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments

[nbsub-4] Naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments.
Called jemadar until 1965.

[1] "For Officers". careerairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.

[5] "For Airmen". careerairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.

[1]

[Alt 1]

[Alt 2]

[Alt 3]

[2]

Equivalent ranks of Indian military
Indian Navy	Indian Army	Indian Air Force
Commissioned ranks
Admiral of the fleet	Field marshal	Marshal of the Indian Air Force
Admiral	General	Air chief marshal
Vice admiral	Lieutenant general	Air marshal
Rear admiral	Major general	Air vice marshal
Commodore	Brigadier	Air commodore
Captain	Colonel	Group captain
Commander	Lieutenant colonel	Wing commander
Lieutenant commander	Major	Squadron leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight lieutenant
Sub lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying officer
Junior commissioned ranks
Master chief petty officer 1st class	Subedar major^{[Alt 1]}	Master warrant officer
Master chief petty officer 2nd class	Subedar^{[Alt 2]}	Warrant officer
Chief petty officer	Naib subedar^{[Alt 3]}	Junior warrant officer
Non-commissioned ranks
Petty officer	Havildar	Sergeant
Leading seaman	Naik	Corporal
Seaman 1	Lance naik	Leading aircraftsman
Seaman 2	Sepoy	Aircraftsman
Footnotes
^ Risaldar major in cavalry and armoured regiments ^ Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments ^ Naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments. Called jemadar until 1965.

Officer ranks

Junior commissioned officer and non-commissioned ranks

See also

References