In this paper, a combined field orientation and adaptive backstepping approach using a sliding mode adaptive flux observer, is proposed for the control of induction motor In order to achieve the speed regulation with the consideration of improving power efficiency, rotor angular speed and flux amplitude tracking objectives are formulated. Rotor flux and inverse time constant are estimated by the sliding mode adaptive flux observer based on a fixed stator frame model and mechanical lumped uncertainty such as inertia moment, load torque disturbance, friction compensated by the adaptive backstepping based on a field-oriented model. Simulation results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.