With reference to India’s defence, consider the following pairs:
\begin{array}{ccc}& \text{Aircraft type}& \text{Description}\\ \text{I.}& \text{Dornier-228}& \text{Maritime patrol aircraft}\\ \text{II.}& \text{IL-76}& \text{Supersonic combat aircraft}\\ \text{III.}& \text{C-17 Globe-master III}& \text{Military transport aircraft}\end{array}

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

The correct option is Only two.

Let us analyze each pair step-by-step to determine which matches are correct:

1. Dornier-228 — Maritime patrol aircraft:
The Dornier-228 is a twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. It is extensively used by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for electronic warfare, maritime surveillance, and maritime patrol duties. Therefore, Pair I is correctly matched.

2. IL-76 — Supersonic combat aircraft:
The Ilyushin Il-76 (IL-76) is a multi-purpose, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau. In the Indian Air Force (IAF), it is used as a heavy-lift military transport aircraft (named 'Gajraj') and is not a supersonic combat aircraft. Therefore, Pair II is incorrectly matched.

3. C-17 Globemaster III — Military transport aircraft:
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force and operated by several nations, including India. The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of C-17s for strategic airlift missions, transporting troops, and carrying heavy cargo. Therefore, Pair III is correctly matched.

Since Pair I and Pair III are correctly matched, exactly two pairs are correct.