List of Indian Air Force stations explained

The Indian Air Force currently operates seven Air Commands. Each command is headed by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the rank of Air Marshal.

The Air Force currently has over 60 air stations all over India. These are grouped into seven commands: Western Air Command at New Delhi, Delhi. Eastern Air Command at Shillong, Meghalaya. Central Air Command at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Southern Air Command at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. South Western Air Command at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Training Command at Bengaluru, Karnataka, and Maintenance Command at Nagpur, Maharashtra. The largest airbase is in Hindon, Uttar Pradesh.

There are a number of newer air stations being built as well, in line with India's strategic doctrine. The Indian Navy has some separate air stations for its aviation wing.

Western Air Command is the largest Air Command. It operates sixteen air stations from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and a couple of Air stations in Uttar Pradesh. Eastern Air Command operates fifteen air stations in eastern and north-eastern India. Central Air Command operates two air stations in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and surrounding states of central India. Southern Air Command's tasks include protecting the vital shipping routes. It operates nine air stations in Southern India and two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. South Western Air Command is the front line of defence against Pakistan. This important command operates twelve air stations in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

List of air stations

Note: Station and unit details are from Scramble.nl (2009) and outdated.^[1] Article needs to be revised/updated.

Station	ICAO	Runway	Elevation	Geographical coordinates	State/territory	Wing	Squadrons	Aircraft
Western Air Command
Adampur AFS	VIAX	13/31	775 ft / 236 m		Punjab	8th Wing	No. 47 SquadronNo. 223 Squadron IAF	Mikoyan MiG-29
Ambala AFS	VIAM	12L/30R 12R/30L	900 ft / 274 m		Haryana	7 Wing	No. 5 SquadronNo. 14 Squadron No. 17 Squadron 14 Sqn Missile and UAV Squadron 2209 & Squadron 2251S	SEPECAT JaguarDassault Rafale
Amritsar AFS	VIAR	16/34	755 ft / 230 m		Punjab	1 FBSU	-	-
Awantipur AFS	VIAW	12/30	5,400 ft / 1,646 m	33.8766°N 74.9757°W	Jammu & Kashmir	8 FBSU	-	-
Bathinda AFS	VIBT	13/31	700 ft /213 m		Punjab	34 Wing	No. 17 Squadron	Dassault Rafale
Chandigarh AFS	VICG	11/29	1,012 ft / 308 m		Chandigarh	12 Wing/3 BRD	No. 44 SquadronNo. 48 Squadrons No. 126 Helicopter Flight	Transport:Antonov An-32Ilyushin Il-76 Helicopters: Mil Mi-26 Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Gurugram AFS^[2] ^[3] ^[4]	Logistics base				Haryana	IFC and IMAC.^[5] ^[6]	-	-
Faridabad AFS	Logistics base				Haryana	54 ASP, 56th Air Storage Park, Guard dog training.^[7] ^[8] ^[9] ^[10]	-	-
Halwara AFS	VIHX	13/31	790 ft / 241 m		Punjab	9 Wing,	No. 220 Squadron IAFNo. 221 Squadron IAF	Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Hindon AFS	VIDX	09/27	700 ft / 213 m		Uttar Pradesh	28 Wing	No. 77 SquadronNo. 131 Helicopter Flight No. 181 Flight No. 129 Helicopter Unit No. 81 Squadron IAF	Transport:C130J Super Hurcules Hawker Siddeley HS 748 Boeing 737-200 Helicopters: HAL Cheetah Mil Mi-17 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
Vadsar AFS	AFS	-	-		Gujarat	47 Signal Unit	-	-
Jammu AFS	VIJU	18/36	1029 ft /314 m	32°41′21″N 074°50′15″E	Jammu & Kashmir	23 Wing	No. 153 Helicopter UnitNo. 154 Helicopter Unit No. 132 Helicopter Flight No. 223 Squadron IAF	Helicopters:Mil Mi-17 HAL Cheetah Combat Jets: Mikoyan MiG-29
Leh AFS	VILH	06/24 07R/25L 07L/25R	10,682 ft/ 3,256 m		Ladakh	21 Wing	No. 114 Helicopter UnitNo. 130 Helicopter Unit	Mil Mi-17HAL Cheetah
Palam AFS	VIDP	09/27 10/28	776 ft / 237 m		Delhi	3 Wing	No. 41 SquadronAir HQ Communication Squadron, Indian Air Force	Hawker Siddeley HS 748Dornier 228 777-300ER Boeing 737 BBJ Embraer 145 Embraer 135 Mil Mi-17
Pathankot AFS	VIPK	01/19	1,017 ft / 310 m		Punjab	18 Wing	No. 125 Helicopter SquadronNo. 137 Helicopter Squadron	Helicopters:AH-64 Apache (operated by both the squadrons)
Sarsawa AFS	VISP	09/27	891 ft / 272 m		Uttar Pradesh	30 Wing	No. 117 Helicopter UnitNo. 152 Helicopter Unit	Mil Mi-17HAL Dhruv
Sirsa AFS	VISX	05/23	650 ft / 198 m		Haryana	45 Wing
Srinagar AFS	VISR	13/31	5,458 ft / 1,664 m		Jammu & Kashmir	1 Wing	No. 223 SquadronNo. 154 Helicopter Unit, IAF	Mikoyan MiG-29Mil Mi-17
Udhampur AFS	VIUX	18/36	1,950 ft / 594 m		Jammu & Kashmir	HQ AOC J&K39 Wing	No. 132 Helicopter Flight	HAL Cheetah
Eastern Air Command
Purnea AFS	VEPU	18/36	412 ft / 125 m	25°45′35″N 087°24′36″E	Bihar	14FBSU	-	-
Bagdogra AFS	VEBD	18/36	412 ft / 125 m		West Bengal	20 Wing	No. 156 Helicopter Unit	Mil Mi-17
Barapani AFS	VEBI	04/22	2910 ft / 886 m		Meghalaya
Barrackpore AFS	VEBR	02/20	18 ft / 5 m		West Bengal	6 Wing	No. 157 Helicopter Unit	Mil Mi-17
Chabua AFS	VECA	05/23	350 ft / 107 m		Assam	14 Wing	No. 102 Squadron	Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Hasimara AFS	VEHX	11L/29R 11R/29L	340 ft /104 m		West Bengal	16 Wing	No. 101 Squadron IAF	Dassault Rafale
Jorhat AFS	VEJT	04/22	284 ft / 87 m		Assam	10 Wing	No. 43 SquadronNo. 49 Squadron	Antonov An-32
Kalaikunda AFS	VEDX	17/35	200 ft / 60 m		West Bengal	5th Wing(Sqdn18 with MiG27s & OCU with MiG21s)
Kumbhigram AFS	VEKU	06/24	352 ft / 107 m		Assam	22 Wing	No. 110 Helicopter Unit	Mil Mi-8
Mohanbari AFS	VEMN	05/23	361 ft / 110 m		Assam	42 Wing	No. 127 Helicopter UnitNo. 128 Helicopter Unit	Mil Mi-17
Mountain Shadow AFS	VEGT	05/23	350 ft / 107 m		Assam
Panagarh AFS	VEPH	15/33	240 ft / 73 m		West Bengal	62 SU, 87 Squadron	No. 87 Squadron	C-130J Super Hercules
Salua AFS					West Bengal	Radar station^[11]
Tawang AFS	VETW		8,756 ft / 2,669 m		Arunachal Pradesh
Tezpur AFS	VETZ	04/22	240 ft / 73 m		Assam	11 Wing	No. 2 SquadronNo. 106 Squadron	Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Central Air Command
Agra AFS	VIAG	05/23 12/30	551 ft 167 m		Uttar Pradesh	4 Wing	No. 12 SquadronNo. 78 SquadronNo. 50 Squadron	Transport:Antonov An-32 Ilyushin Il-78 AEW&C: Beriev A-50
Bakshi Ka Talab AFS	VIBL	09/27	385 ft/ 117 m		Uttar Pradesh	AD Flight
Bamrauli AFS	VEAB	06/24 12/30	322 ft/ 98 m		Uttar Pradesh	29 Wing
Bareilly AFS	VIBY	11/29	565 ft/ 172 m		Uttar Pradesh	15 Wing	No. 111 Helicopter UnitNo. 24 SquadronNo. 8 Squadron	Helicopters:HAL Dhruv Combat Jets: Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Bihta AFS		07/25	52 ft 170 m		Bihar
Chakeri AFS	VICX	01/19 09/27	410 ft/124 m		Uttar Pradesh
Darbhanga AFS	VEDH	14/28	21 ft / 38 m		Bihar
Gorakhpur AFS	VEGK	11/29	259 ft / 78 m		Uttar Pradesh	17 Wing	No. 16 SquadronNo. 27 SquadronNo. 105 Helicopter Unit	Combat Jets:SEPECAT Jaguar Helicopters: Mil Mi-17
Maharajpur AFS	VIGR	06/24	617 ft / 188 m	26.2933°N 78.2278°W	Madhya Pradesh	40 Wing	No. 1 Squadron No. 7 Squadron No. 9 Squadron	Dassault Mirage 2000
Southern Air Command
Car Nicobar AFS	VOCX	02/20	42 ft / 13 m	9.1525°N 92.8197°W	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	37 Wing
Sulur AFS	VOSX	05/23	1,250 ft / 381 m	11.0136°N 77.1597°W	Tamil Nadu	43 Wing5 BRD24 TETTRA School6 AFH	109 HUNo. 33 Squadron No. 45 Squadron	Transport:Antonov An-32 Helicopters:Mil Mi-17 Combat Jets: HAL Tejas
Port Blair AFS	VOPB	04/22	16 m /5 m	11.6411°N 92.7297°W	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Tambaram AFS	VOTX	05/23 12/30	90 ft / 27 m	12.9069°N 80.1211°W	Tamil Nadu
Thanjavur AFS	VOTJ	07/25	253 ft / 77 m	10.7222°N 79.1014°W	Tamil Nadu	47 Wing	No. 222 Squadron	Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Thiruvananthapuram AFS	VOTV	14/32	13 ft / 4 m	8.48°N 76.92°W	Kerala	HQ
South Western Air Command
Suratgarh AFS	VISG	05/23	560 ft / 170 m	29.3878°N 73.9039°W	Rajasthan	35 Wing	No. 104 Helicopter Squadron	Helicopters:Mil Mi-35
Bhuj AFS	VABJ	05/23	268 ft / 82 m	23.2878°N 69.67°W	Gujarat	27 Wing
Deesa AFS	VADS	06/24	485 ft / 148 m	24.2681°N 72.2044°W	Gujarat	52 Wing
Jaisalmer AFS	VIJR	04/22	887 ft / 270 m	26.8892°N 70.8644°W	Rajasthan	41 Wing
Jamnagar AFS	VAJM	06/24 12/30	69 ft / 21 m	22.4664°N 70.0114°W	Gujarat	33 Wing	No. 6 SquadronNo. 28 Squadron
Jodhpur AFS	VIJO	05/23	717 ft / 219 m	26.2514°N 73.0481°W	Rajasthan	32 Wing	143 HUNo. 10 SquadronNo. 29 SquadronNo. 32 SquadronNo. 37 Squadron
Lohegaon AFS	VAPO	10/28 14/32	1,942 ft / 592 m	18.5819°N 73.9194°W	Maharashtra	2 Wing	No. 20 SquadronNo. 30 Squadron
Nal-Bikaner AFS	VIBK	05/23	750 ft / 229 m	28.0725°N 73.2067°W	Rajasthan	46 Wing	No. 3 SquadronNo. 23 Squadron	Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
Naliya AFS	VANY	06/24	68 ft / 21 m	23.22°N 68.9°W	Gujarat	49 Wing	No. 18 Squadron	HAL Tejas
Phalodi AFS		05/23	700 ft / 213 m	27.1128°N 72.3889°W	Rajasthan	35 Wing	No. 23 Squadron104 Helicopter Squadron
Uttarlai AFS	VIUT	02/20	500 ft / 152 m	25.8128°N 71.4822°W	Rajasthan	5 FBSU	No. 4 Squadron
Makarpura AFS	VABO	04/22	127 ft / 38.7 m	22.3294°N 73.2194°W	Gujarat	36 Wing	No. 11 SquadronNo. 25 Squadron^[12]
Training Command
Begumpet AFS	VOHY	09/27 14/32	1,741 ft / 531 m	17.4522°N 78.4611°W	Telangana
	Bidar AFS	VOBR	02/20 08/26	2,178 ft / 663 m	17.9078°N 77.4858°W	Karnataka
Dundigal AFS	VODG	10L/28R 10R/28L	2,013 ft / 614 m	17.6292°N 78.4033°W	Telangana
Hakimpet AFS	VOHK	09/27	2,020 ft / 616 m	17.5533°N 78.5247°W	Telangana
Yelahanka AFS	VOYK	09/27	3,045 ft / 928 m	13.1358°N 77.6056°W	Karnataka
Admin Training Inst, Sambra, Belgaum			2,500 ft / 762 m	15.85°N 74.5°W	Karnataka
Maintenance Command
Nagpur AFS	VANP	09/27 14/32	1,012 ft /308 m	21.0919°N 79.0469°W	Maharashtra	44 Wing
Ojhar AFS	VAOZ	08/26	1,900 ft / 579 m	20.1194°N 73.9136°W	Maharashtra	11 BRD
Chandigarh AFS	VICG	11/29	1,012 ft / 308 m		Chandigarh	12 Wing/3 BRD
Kanpur AFS	VECX	09/27	410 ft / 126 m		Uttar Pradesh	1 BRD/4 BRD
Devlali AFS				19.8551°N 73.8038°W	Maharashtra	Helicopter Maintenance Unit

The other Air Force stations that come under Maintenance Command are not air stations and are mostly signal units and station repair depots situated in different towns. Delhi, for example, has a few BRDs and SUs that come under Maintenance Command.

List of advance landing grounds

Along China border

See also: List of People's Liberation Army Air Force airbases and Western Theater Command. Chinese Military has an integrated Western Theater Command across the whole LAC with India.^[13] Indian Military has divided the LAC into 3 sectors - the western sector across Ladakh and the Chinese-held Aksai Chin, the central sector across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand states, and the eastern sector across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states.^[14] Similarly, Indian Airforce has Delhi-based Western Air Command, Prayagraj-based Central Air Command, and Shillong-based Eastern Air Command to cover the LAC.

• Ladakh
  • Daulat Beg Oldi ALG serves Trans-Karakoram Tract (Shaksgam), Aksai Chin and Siachen Glacier.
  • Fukche ALG serves the Demchok sector.
  • Nyoma ALG serves two separate noncontiguous but closely located disputed areas of Chumar North and Chumar South.
  • Padum ALG^[15] Serves Ladakh LAC and Kargil LOC as a second line of defence airport.
  • Thoise ALG^[16]
  • Parma Valley ALG near Chushul (proposed)^{[17] [18]}
• Himachal Pradesh shares 250 km border with Tibet (China).^[19]
  • Shimla Airport,^[19] civil airport available for military use. Serves Kaurik, Tashigang-Shipki La and Nelang-Pulam Sumda disputed area.
  • Kullu-Manali Airport,^[19] civil airport available for military use. Serves Kaurik, Tashigang-Shipki La, and Nelang-Pulam Sumda disputed area.
  • Kibber-Rangrik, surveyed as of July 2020,^[19] construction was approved in the January 2023 to be completed by 2024–25.^[20] Will be closest ALG to Chumar, Kaurik, and Tashigang-Shipki La disputed area.
• Uttarakhand has 350 km border with Tibet.
  • Chinyalisaur Airport ALG serves disputed Barahoti and Nelang-Pulam Sumda sector. ITBP has 42 BoPs (border outposts) in Barahoti sector and Mana Pass area (Nelang-Pulam Sumda sector).^[21]
  • Pithoragarh Airport ALG serves disputed Kalapani territory.
  • Gauchar Airport ALG.
• Sikkim
  • Pakyong Airport AGL serves Doklam disputed area.
• Arunachal Pradesh
  • Aalo ALG, formerly Along,^[22]
  • Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground ALG^[22]
  • Pasighat ALG^[22]
  • Tawang Air Force Station
  • Tuting ALG^[22]
  • Vijoynagar ALG^[22]
  • Walong Advanced Landing Ground (Walong ALG)^[23]
  • Ziro ALG^{[22] [24]}
  • Daporijo ALG, Arunachal Pradesh^{[25] [26]}
  • Alinye (ALG), Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh^{[25] [26]}
  • Hayuliang ALG, Anjaw District, Arunachal Pradesh.

Along Pakistan border

• Ladakh
  • Thoise ALG^[16]

Highway landing grounds

• Uttar Pradesh
  • Bangarmau Airstrip, on Agra Lucknow Expressway

See also

Similar capabilities lists

• India-China Border Roads
• Indian military satellites
• List of active Indian Air Force aircraft squadrons
• List of Indian Navy bases
• List of active Indian Navy ships
• India's overseas military bases
• Indian Nuclear Command Authority

Other related topics

• Armed Forces Special Operations Division
• Defence Cyber Agency
• Integrated Defence Staff
• Indian Armed Forces
• Strategic Forces Command
• Special Forces of India

External links

• List of Indian Air Force stations at GlobalSecurity.org

Notes and References

1. Scramble.nl, Indian Air Force Order of Battle, accessed October 2011
2. Web site: Maruti to vacate area within restricted zone of Gurugram Air Force station . timesofindia.indiatimes.com . . India . en . 2018-12-30.
3. Web site: Gurugram: 6,000 houses near air force ammunition depot face threat of demolition . Kumar . Kumar . indiatoday.in. India Today. India . en . 2018-12-30.
4. Web site: Verma . Sanjeev . Haryana allows illegal Hotel within restricted zone of Gurgaon Air Force Station . 2 February 2012 . hindustantimes.com . . India . en . 30 December 2018.
5. https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/12/22/Indian-Navy-launches-Information-Fusion-Centre-to-boost-maritime-security.html Indian Navy launches Information Fusion Centre to boost maritime security
6. https://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/defence-minister-inaugurates-information-management-analysis-centre-imac-gurgaon-11201415852.html Defence minister inaugurates Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) in Gurgaon
7. 1980, "Haryana Review", Volume 14, Page 47.
8. 2017, Fridabad disaster management plan, Govt of Haryana, p23.
9. 13 Nov 2016, Ground Threat for air warriors, Times of India.
10. 1991, Sainik Samachar: The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces, p26.
11. Web site: 2009-09-30 . Indian Air Force :: Air Force Stations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516092812/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/units/bases/283-air-force-stations.html . 16 May 2017 . 2013-12-30 . Bharat-rakshak.com.
12. News: 1 September 2011 . Himalayan Eagles land in Vadodara . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208061236/http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-59296.html . 8 December 2015 . 7 November 2011 . newKerela.com.
13. Web site: Eye on India, China raises Tibet military command rank Central Tibetan Administration . tibet.net . 2016-10-01 .
14. Web site: Twisting India's Chicken's Neck . lowyinstitute.org . 2020-07-18 .
15. https://www.deccanherald.com/content/387892/india-plans-advanced-landing-strips.html India plans AGL strips
16. http://www.cogitasia.com/indias-growing-military-footprint-in-eastern-ladakh-facing-china/ Parma valley ALG
17. Web site: Joshi. Prateek. 26 July 2016. India's Growing Military Footprint in Eastern Ladakh: Facing China. 2021-12-23. cogitASIA Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Asia Policy Blog.
18. Web site: O'Donnell. Frank. Bollfrass. Alexander K.. March 2020. The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide. 2021-12-23. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
19. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/demand-for-airstrip-in-spiti-grows-amid-increasing-india-china-tension/articleshow/76453863.cms Himachal Pradesh: Demand for airstrip in Spiti area
20. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/to-counter-china-nyoma-airfield-in-ladakh-to-be-full-fledged-base-in-2-yrs-467406 To counter China, Nyoma airfield in Ladakh to be full-fledged base in 2 years
21. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/eyeing-national-security-uttarakhand-itbp-to-improve-border-infrastructure/story-UKZOI5g5xzJ5KDnCCM8V7K.html Eyeing national security, Uttarakhand, ITBP to improve border infrastructure
22. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-to-have-7-operational-advanced-landing-grounds-in-arunachal-pradesh-in-a-month/articleshow/49809013.cms?from=mdr IAF to have seven AGL in Arunachal Pradesh
23. News: Walong landing ground in Arunachal Pradesh ready for operations. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031045145/http://zeenews.india.com/news/north-east/walong-landing-ground-in-arunachal-pradesh-ready-for-operations_1813682.html. 31 October 2015. live.
24. Web site: Upgraded Advanced Landing Grounds at Ziro and Along Inaugurated. 2016-03-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20160313195856/http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/upgraded-advanced-landing-grounds-at-ziro-and-along-inaugurated-116031200831_1.html. 13 March 2016. live.
25. Web site: UDAN reaches Arunachal Pradesh; first commercial flight flagged off | Business Standard News . 19 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181120095406/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/udan-reaches-arunachal-pradesh-first-commercial-flight-flagged-off-118052200029_1.html . 20 November 2018 . live.
26. Web site: Commercial flight: Arunachal Pradesh finally gets connected with Guwahati by a commercial flight - the Economic Times . 19 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181119215833/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/arunachal-pradesh-finally-gets-connected-with-guwahati-by-a-commercial-flight/articleshow/64261669.cms . 19 November 2018 . live.