The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially surpassed China to become the world’s third most powerful air force, according to the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) 2025 rankings. The United States and Russia continue to hold the top two positions, while China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has now slipped to fourth place.
Original Source :The Logical Indian+1(by Aanchal Mishra)
✈️ The Figures Behind India’s Climb
The WDMMA analysed 103 countries and 129 air force branches, tracking more than 48,000 aircraft worldwide. The Logical Indian+1
Here’s how the top air forces rank in 2025:
| Rank | Country | TruVal Rating (TVR) |
| 1 | United States | 242.9 |
| 2 | Russia | 114.2 |
| 3 | India (IAF) | 69.4 |
| 4 | China (PLAAF) | 63.8 |
| 5 | Japan | 58.1 |
| 6 | Israel | 56.3 |
| 7 | France | 55.3 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 55.3 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 46.3 |
India’s fleet composition in 2025:
31.6% Fighters
29% Helicopters
21.8% Trainers
This diversity is what the report calls a “balanced unit”—capable of high readiness, rapid response, and sustained operations across land and sea. The Logical Indian