China Upset As IAF Soars Past In Air Power Rankings, Says Militaries Be Ranked By Real Capabilities
A recent global assessment by the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) has sent ripples across the geopolitical landscape, and ruffled feathers in Beijing. The ranking placed the Indian Air Force (IAF) as the third most powerful in the world, ahead of China, and trailing only behind the United States and Russia.
Just last week, it emerged that the IAF has surpassed China in air power, becoming the 3rd largest in the world. It is worth mentioning here that Operation Sindoor showcased decisively that a technologically advanced air force does more than providing support, it can determine the course of a conflict.
According to a Newsweek report, the ranking marks a “stunning shift in global military power.” For India, this is a moment of national pride. However, for China, it’s an uncomfortable reminder that its long-assumed military superiority is being questioned. This is perhaps why Beijing now seems annoyed.
Global air powers: What did the ranking reveal?
The WDMMA ranking evaluates 103 countries and 129 air services, including those of the army, navy, and marines, through a proprietary “TruVal Rating.” Unlike traditional metrics that rely solely on fleet size, TruVal factors in modernisation, support infrastructure, attack and defense capabilities, and inventory quality.
The United States continues its dominance with a combined rating of 242.9, followed by Russia at 114.2, and India with a TruVal Rating of 69.4. With this number, India beat its nuclear-armed nation China, once seen as Asia’s air power leader, which slipped to the 4th spot, irking Chinese analysts.
Is China cheesed off by latest WDMMA rankings?
China’s state media and military commentators have dismissed the ranking as “meaningless on-paper calculations.” Chinese naval expert Zhang Junshe, speaking to the Global Times, insisted that only “real battlefield capabilities” matter, not theoretical rankings.
He warned that “hype by US and Indian media could lead to miscalculations and unnecessary competition.”
How has India reacted to its rise in rankings?
Predictably, the news was celebrated across Indian media and social platforms. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s official X account hailed it as a “proud moment” for the country, stressing that the Indian Air Force’s 1716-strong fleet now outperforms China’s in terms of capability mix and combat readiness.
India’s surge ahead of China in the WDMMA rankings is more than symbolic as it underscores a shift in the Asian military balance and a growing recognition of India’s technological and operational capabilities. While Beijing may dismiss the report, the world is taking note of the fact that the IAF is a global air power in its own right.
