Dhaka, Oct. 16 -- In a stunning shift in global military power, India has leapfrogged China to claim the title of the third most powerful air force in the world, reports Newsweek.

While the United States continues to dominate, followed by Russia, India's rise signals a dramatic recalibration in Asia's strategic balance, the report said.

China, long considered a major air power, now ranks fourth. The latest World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) rankings cover 103 countries and 129 air services-including army, navy, and marine aviation branches-and track a total of 48,082 aircraft worldwide.

Newsweek has reached out to the State department as well as the Foreign Ministries of China and India for comment.

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