As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, attention has turned to India’s military capabilities. A regional power and one of the world’s largest arms importers, India possesses a diverse and technologically advanced defense arsenal. This article examines the key elements of India’s military power—including aircraft, missile systems, tanks, naval forces, and nuclear capabilities—in the context of Pakistan-India war.
1. Indian Armed Forces Overview
India is one of the most powerful and expansive military establishments in the world. As of 2025, according to the Global Firepower Index the Indian Armed Forces are ranked 4th globally in terms of overall strength.This robust defence infrastructure is structured into four major components, each playing a vital role in ensuring national security and strategic dominance in South Asia.
- Indian Army – Over 1.2 million active personnel
- Indian Air Force (IAF) – 1,700+ aircraft
- Indian Navy – Modernizing rapidly with aircraft carriers, submarines, and destroyers
- Strategic Forces Command – Handles India’s nuclear arsenal
2. Aircraft Power: Supremacy in the Skies
✅ Rafale Fighter Jets
Rafel : “Gust of Wind and “Burst of Fire”
- India has 36 Rafale jets, procured from France.
- The Rafel is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine omnivore, air supremacy interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship and nuclear deterrence fighter aircraft
- Equipped with SCALP cruise missiles and Meteor air-to-air missiles, these jets were used in Operation Sindoor to strike terror camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
✅ Su-30MKI
- Backbone of the IAF with 270+ jets.
- Russian-origin, multirole aircraft fitted with Indian and Israeli avionics.
- Can launch BrahMos-A, an air-launched supersonic cruise missile.
✅ Tejas LCA
- It is india’s Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) developed by HAL.
- Lightweight, and being upgraded to Tejas Mk-2 with more advanced systems.
- Single seat, Single Engine(Kaveri), Supersonic , India’s second indigenously developed Combat Aircraft.
✅ Phalcon
- It is Airborne Warning and Control System(AWACS) developed by Israel.
- It is one of the type of Mobile radar which give complete information of incoming enemy into India’s territory.
- India purchased three of them at the cost of $1.1Billion
3. Missile Arsenal: Strategic and Tactical Superiority
🔥 Agni Series (Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missiles)
- Agni-I : surface to surface ballistic missile , short range of 700-1200km, payload capacity of 1000kg.
- Agni-II : nuclear capable, range upto 2000km, payload capacity of 1000kg.
- Agni-III : medium range ballistic missile , range up to 3000km with speed of 5km/s.
- Agni-IV: Mid-range ballistic missiles used for credible deterrence, range up to 4000km with speed of 6km/s
- Agni-V: Range of 5,000-8,000 km; can strike deep inside China and Pakistan.
🔥 Prithvi Missile
- Prithvi I : Army variant, tactical surface-to-surface missile with a 350 km range and payload capacity is 500-1000kg, deployed with mobile launchers for quick strikes.
- Prithvi II : Airforce varient
- Prithvi III : Naval varient , also known as ‘Dhanush’
🔥 BrahMos
- Supersonic cruise missile developed with Russia.
- Can be launched from land, sea, and air (Su-30MKI).
- Used for high-precision strikes, like the recent cross-border attacks.
🔥 Nirbhay Cruise Missile
- Subsonic missile with a range of 1,000 km.
- Designed for deep strikes with terrain-hugging flight capability.
🔥 Trishul Missile
- It is a short range missile between 500m to 9km
- It is surface to air missile
- It is Anti-missile system and used to destroy enemy’s missile, helicopters and small plains
🔥 Astra missile
- It is India’s first indigenous Beyond Visual Range air to air Missile
- Developed by DRDO
- It can be Launched from Sukhoi-30, Tejas, MiG-29 Aircrafts
4. Air Defense: Shielding the Nation
🛡️ S-400 Missile System
- Purchased from Russia; deployed in the western sector.
- Can intercept enemy aircraft, missiles, and drones at a range of up to 400 km.
- Reportedly intercepted several Pakistani drones and missiles during the May 2025 skirmishes.
🛡️ AkasH Missile System
- Anti-Aircraft missile , payload capacity of 60kg
- Akash system can hit multiple aircrafts of the enemy, it is similar to Patriot missile of USA
- Indigenous SAM system with a medium range of 25 km range.
- Deployed along western borders to neutralize incoming threats.
🛡️ Pinaka rocket launcher
- it is a multi-barrel rocket launcher
- it can fire 12 rockets within 44 seconds
- Range : Mark-I of 40km , Mark-II of 50km
- Manufactured by Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune
🛡️SWATHI – Weapon Locating Radar(WLR)
Indigenous RADAR jointly designed and developed by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment(LRDE) , DRDO, and Bharat Electronics Limited.
SWATHI can detect and track incoming Artillery and Mortars rounds, Rocket and Rocket launchers, it can simultaneously track up to 7 targets.
5. Indian Army: Ground Domination Capabilities
🪖 Tanks & Artillery
- T-90 Bhishma: Russian-origin, modern MBT; over 1,100 units.
- Arjun Mk-1A: Indigenous tank with advanced electronics and armor.
- K9 Vajra-T: Self-propelled howitzer used for fast artillery deployment.
6. Indian Navy: Maritime Deterrence
🚢 INS Vikramaditya & INS Vikrant
- Aircraft carriers capable of projecting air power in the Arabian Sea.
- Length- 284 metre
- Hight – 60 metre
- it has capacity to carry 34 aircrafts at a time
🚢 Nuclear Submarines (Arihant Class)
- India’s first indigenously-developed nuclear submarine.
- Armed with K-15 and K-4 SLBMs, part of India’s second-strike nuclear capability.
- It is capable of carrying nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles.
🚢 INS Sarvekshak
- Sarvekshak has become the first ship in the world to use solar energy on board
- Equipped with BrahMos missiles and advanced radar.
India’s military strength is formidable, backed by indigenous development, global partnerships, and strategic planning. As tensions with Pakistan-India war continue, India’s tri-service synergy, advanced weapons platforms, and readiness drills like Operation Abhyaas place it in a strong position to deter or counter threats. However, given the nuclear stakes and civilian toll, the world watches and hopes that diplomacy prevails over destruction.