With tensions between India & China rising constantly at the border in Ladakh, and with an increased military presence in the Galwan Valley, both India and China are busy increasing their forces. While China, reportedly is placing more MMA fighters in the region for some reason, our Ministry of Defence has just approved the procurement of 21 MiG-29 fighter jets along with some advanced weapon systems for our existing fleet of MiG-29s

Along with that, we are also increasing the number of Su-30MKI that Hindustan Aeronautical Limited makes under license from Sukhoi.

This got us thinking about, the mean machines that our Air Force, the fourth largest air force in the world, have at their disposal to bring the fight to the enemy. And oh boy, can we say, we are impressed.

Here are 6 mean war machines from India’s exhaustive arsenal, that should scare the wits off of people who, clearly, at this point, aren’t thinking straight. Do note, that we are not including the Dassault Rafale, as we don’t have a proper fleet of those particular aircraft as of yet.

1. SUKHOI Su-30MKI

Designed by Sukhoi in Russia and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL, the Su-30MKI is our primary fighter jet and one of the best ones in the world. It is one of the few heavy, all-weather, long-range fighters that are operational in Asia. In terms of generation, it sits between the 4th generation & 5th generation capabilities, thanks to the manner in which it has been developed in India. The Su-30MKI comes equipped with an autocannon and a number of rockets, missiles with air-to-air, air-to-surface, and various other capabilities.

2. MIKOYAN MiG 29

The MiG 29s that we are in the process of acquiring will obviously be badass, but the ones that we have now, are beasts in their own way. The current iteration that we are using is called the MiG 29UPG, which as of 2012 is the most advanced variant of the MiG29. A vast majority of our MiG 29 fleet is a multipurpose one, meaning that they are not limited to just dogfights or air-to-air battles.

3. TEJAS Mark-1A

HAL developed TEJAS is a lightweight multipurpose fighter jet. Although it is mainly designed for air-to-air combats, it’s ability isn’t limited to just that. It has a twin-barrel gun that acts as the main cannon, and a number of air-to-air, and air-to-land missiles. The TEJAS Mk-1A, much like the Rafale, is at 4G+.

4. AC-130 Hercules & C-17 Globemaster III

Not just fighter jets, our transport planes are also a class apart. While we do not have the AC-130 gunship, we do have its bigger brother, AC-130J or the AC-130 Hercules. We also have the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. Both these aircraft have been instrumental in developing roadways near the border and has allowed the Indian Army to place troops closer to the border at a moment’s notice. Furthermore, should things escalate any more, the AC-130J is also capable of carrying some of our most deadly battle tanks to Ladakh.

5. Mi-25 & Mi-35 HIND

If the proverb “Teaching old dogs new tricks” ever needs to be personified, the HIND gunships that we have are the perfect candidate. Although it may look dated, the HIND gunships are one of the most prolific fighter helicopters in the world. They have a long and proven track record, are very versatile and extremely economical to operate.

6. Apache AH64E 

Finally, we have the most vicious, as well as the most successful gunship helicopters of all time, the Apache helicopters. The current iteration that we have, the AH64E is the most advanced attack helicopter in the world. Apaches have been a favourite among air forces around the world because of their versatility and their manoeuvrability. It is also among the fastest battle helicopters in the world, with an ability to carry the most diverse weapons package a mission can require.