UPSC Prelims PYQ on India Defence Aircraft – Dornier-228, IL-76, C-17 Globemaster III
Q. With reference to India’s defence, consider the following pairs :
Aircraft type — Description
I. Dornier-228 — Maritime patrol aircraft
II. IL-76 — Supersonic combat aircraft
III. C-17 Globemaster III — Military transport
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
✅ Correct Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation:
Pair I (Dornier-228 — Maritime patrol aircraft): Correct. The Dornier 228 (operated by Indian Navy/Coast Guard and produced under licence by HAL) is used for maritime patrol, surveillance, SAR and related roles.
Pair II (IL-76 — Supersonic combat aircraft): Incorrect. The Ilyushin Il-76 is a strategic/transport aircraft (four-engine turbofan) used for heavy airlift, aerial refuelling and related roles — not a supersonic combat aircraft.
Pair III (C-17 Globemaster III — Military transport): Correct. The C-17 Globemaster III is a large strategic/tactical military transport used by the Indian Air Force for troop/cargo lift, airdrops and evacuation missions.
