India Overtakes China In Global Air Power Rankings: Tejas MK-1A Takes Flight As Nation Claims Third Spot Worldwide | India News
The world has finally acknowledged what India has known for years: The Indian Air Force doesn’t just talk about power, it shows it. While China boasted of its fleet size and Russia relied on its Cold War legacy, India did what mattered most: proved its combat capability in real operations, built a balanced and diversified force, and developed indigenous technology that made the country self-reliant.
The World Guide to Modern Military Aircraft has released its 2025 Global Airpower Rankings, placing India at a historic third position, validating years of strategic investment and operational excellence. The US Air Force ranked first with 242 points, followed by Russia with 114 points, India ranked third with 69.4 points, leaving China firmly in fourth place with 63.8 points. Japan is in the top five with 58.1 points.
India’s Decisive Advantage Over China
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What put India ahead of China in this ranking? The answer lies in a measurement that cannot be faked or inflated: actual combat experience and proven combat capability. In 2019, the Indian Air Force conducted the Balakot airstrike deep in Pakistani airspace, successfully destroying its target and returning safely despite enemy territory. This year’s Operation Sindoor demonstrated even more impressive capability, with the IAF achieving 100 per cent hit accuracy while losing zero aircraft; This is a testament to operational excellence that few air forces around the world can match.
While India has repeatedly demonstrated its air combat prowess in real-world operations against real enemies, China’s air force has not participated in any major conflict for decades. This stark difference in experience was decisive in the rankings, as theoretical ability meant little compared to proven performance under fire. India fights and wins; China educates and speculates.
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The World Guide to Modern Military Aircraft also praised the IAF’s balanced fleet composition. Of the total aircraft, 31.6 percent are fighter planes, 29 percent are helicopters, 21.8 percent are training planes, and 17.6 percent are drones or reconnaissance planes. By contrast, 52.9% of China’s fleet consists of fighter jets, making its force less diverse.
India’s ranking was further boosted by the diversity of its aircraft inventory. The IAF operates French-made Rafales and Mirage-2000s, Russian-made Su-30s, which are now produced domestically, and US-made Apache and Chinook helicopters. India’s multi-country sourcing ensures that it is not dependent on a single country for maintenance or equipment.
Another parameter that WDMMA takes into account is a country’s domestic inventory. India has taken an important step in this field with the Tejas MK-1A, which completed its first flight from Nashik today. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called it a moment of national pride, and rightly so.
Tejas MK-1A represents the most advanced version of the domestic Tejas fighter aircraft. It is a multi-purpose supersonic aircraft with a maximum range of 3,000 kilometers. It is integrated with the BrahMos missile and compatible with Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Equipped with eight hardware points, this vehicle can carry up to 5,300 kilograms of weapons, bombs and missiles. Beyond its attack capability, it can also perform patrol and reconnaissance duties.
Despite its advanced technology, the production cost of each Teja is around Rs 306 million, significantly cheaper than imported fighter jets. Since it is entirely produced in India, maintenance and parts costs are also affordable. Currently, 40 Tejas aircraft are deployed in the IAF and the Navy is expected to receive variants equipped with anti-ship missiles.
Tejas MK-1A as a Symbol of Transformation
The maiden flight of the Tejas MK-1A, coinciding with India’s rise to third place in the global air power rankings, carries deep symbolic significance. Just two decades ago, skeptics dismissed India’s ability to design and build a modern fighter jet, pointing to decades of failed attempts and continued dependence on foreign suppliers. These doubts have been comprehensively dispelled as the Tejas MK-1A takes to the skies today. The aircraft represents not only technological achievement but also transformation in India’s defense industrial base.
