India becomes the world's third-largest air power – overtaking China

India has overtaken China for the first time in the global ranking of air forces and has risen to become the third strongest air power in the world, reports Newsweek, citing the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft. Only the United States and Russia rank higher than India.

The ranking covers 103 countries, 129 military air forces, and a total of more than 48,000 aircraft. India's significant rise is linked to the modernization of its air force, which is part of broader geopolitical dynamics in Asia. China, which had long held third place, fell to fourth.

The United States retains its dominant position with capabilities that exceed the combined fleets of Russia, China, India, South Korea, and Japan. Its military spending accounts for about 40 percent of global defense budgets.

This data is particularly significant because air superiority remains a crucial factor in global military strategy.

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