Explanation
Pair I is correctly matched. The
Dornier-228 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft used by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for maritime patrol, surveillance, search and rescue, and pollution control operations. It is manufactured under licence by
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from Dornier GmbH, Germany, and is equipped with advanced sensors tailored for maritime reconnaissance.
Pair II is incorrectly matched. The
IL-76 (Ilyushin Il-76) is not a supersonic combat aircraft —
it is a strategic heavy-lift military transport aircraft of Soviet origin. Operated by the Indian Air Force, it is used for transporting troops, heavy cargo, and vehicles over long distances, as well as for aerial refuelling and emergency response. It is a four-engine turbofan aircraft with no supersonic capability or combat function.
Pair III is correctly matched. The
C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), operated by the Indian Air Force for strategic airlift of troops and equipment. It is also deployed for humanitarian missions, disaster relief, medical evacuation, and airdrops, making it one of the most versatile assets in India’s military logistics fleet.
Therefore, only
Pair I and Pair III are correctly matched.
UPSC Insight
The trap is the description of IL-76 as a “supersonic combat aircraft.” The word supersonic is the planted error — IL-76 is a heavy transport, not a fighter. In aircraft-matching questions, always distinguish between transport, patrol, combat, and trainer categories, as UPSC frequently swaps these descriptions.