Defence Capabilities of India

Nearly every person is bothered by this question. Again, some wonder how many forces are in India? The total army in India is 1.4 million, and there are 11.55 million reserve army besides twenty lakh paramilitary forces. Based on the version of the World Economic Forums, in the year 2017, the defence budget of India was USD67 billion. When the matter comes to the ground battle, Indian soldiers are acknowledged as the finest Indian soldiers. So, it will not turn out to be hyperbole to assume that when an army possesses American weapons, Indian soldiers, and English officers, then nobody will be capable of defeating this army.

Importance of the Indian Defence Industry

The Indian defence industry is a highly vital sector in India. Our country has got one of the biggest military forces in the world as it has got the strength of more than 14.4 lakh active personnel. Again, India can boast of the largest volunteer military in the world, too, as it comprises more than 51 lakh or 5.1 million personnel. The total amount of budget that gets sanctioned for the military of India is Rs. 4.78 lakh crore in the year 2021, and this has the 3rd largest annual defence budget. And so, it leaves behind China (USD261B) and the USA (USD732B).

This is the 2nd biggest defence importer that is behind South Arabia that makes up 9.2 percent of the import of global arms. India does have a domestic defence industry, too, of which 80 percent is owned by the government. The public sector comprises DRDO and its fifty labs, five defence PSUs, four defence shipyards, and forty-one ordnance factories. Besides these things, India has got a novice defence acquisition, procurement, and manufacturing policy for lessening imports and improving domestic manufacturing.

(Image will be Uploaded soon)

DPP-2018, or Defence Production Policy of 2018, works with a mission to turn one amongst the topmost five global producers that have involved themselves in defence and aerospace manufacturing with a yearly export target of nearly US$5 billion by the year 2025. 12 percent of worldwide exports of arms reach India, and India produces only 45 percent to 50 percent of the defence items it uses. India imports the rest from different countries. The military-industrial complex of India has got little success. Only recently, the private sector of India was permitted to get into the production of defence.

The defence exports of India were Rs. 4,682 crore in the year 2017-2018, and in the period of 2018-2019, it was Rs. 10,500 crore. Again, in the period of 2018-2019, 41 Ordnance Factories and 8 DPSU (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) contributed a whopping amount of Rs. 800 crore. During 2014-2018, India happened to be the 2nd biggest defence importer in the world.

The Exports of Arms of India

India has got a modest track record in the form of an arms exporter, as there are several export limitations on some manufacturing organizations, such as OFB. OFB exports Weapon Spares, Arms & Ammunition, Parachutes, Explosives and Chemicals, Clothing, and leather items to 30+ countries from all across the world, like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Oman, Egypt, Kenya, Israel, Botswana, Nigeria, Suriname, Chile, and the US.

Nonetheless, because of some liberal policies that our Honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, adopted since the year 2014, there were a few substantial augmentations in the defence exports of India. Based on the version of the newest official data that was provided in the Indian Parliament, the defence export of India has leapt by 700 percent in just a couple of years. The export authorization shot up from USD213 million in 2016-2017 to USD1.5 billion in the financial year 2019-2020.

In the year 2011, New Delhi consented to sell its initial indigenously designed as well as built multi-role OPV (offshore patrol vessel) called Barracuda to Mauritius. Again, in the year 2017, India did finalize a contract with Myanmar for the sale of indigenously formed lightweight torpedoes that was worth US$37.9 million. These kinds of naval platforms were also sold to countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

In the year 2017, OFB (Ordnance Factory Board) secured its highest export order from a country like UAE for supplying 155 mm artillery shells in 40,000 numbers for $322 crores. Again, in the year 2019, OFB got a second order from UAE for supplying another 50,000 numbers of artillery shells.

The Missiles that India has:

• Supersonic Cruise Missile BrahMos – If someone asks what are the defence capabilities of India then Supersonic Cruise Mille BrahMos will be worth mentioning. The most dangerous missile that India has is BrahMos, and no missile in India comes close to it. It has the capability to attack at a speed of 4900 kilometres per hour. This means the BrahMos would be able to attack at a lightning speed of nearly 2.8 times faster in comparison to sound. It is hoped that BrahMos would be armed with a progressive engine that has hypersonic capabilities in the coming decade. 

Again, it is also hoped that BrahMos would be capable of crossing the speed of seven Mac. The remarkable thing is no other country, like Pakistan, China, or the USA possess more dangerous missiles compared to BrahMos. 

• Prithvi Missile – The Prithvi Missile can carry a nuclear bomb, and it possesses the capability of hitting a surface-to-surface target that reaches up to 350 km. With this missile, India will be capable of hitting Lahore even when it is located in Jammu and Kashmir.

• Agni-5 Missile – This missile is considered an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and has the capability of hitting a target that reaches up to 5000 km. The Agni-5 missile is considered the most advanced one regarding guidance, navigation, engine, and Warhead, and it is certainly better in comparison to its earlier versions.

• Arjuna Tank – This missile has been named after Arjun of Mahabharata. The hitting accuracy of Arjuna Tank is perfect as Arjun. India’s DRDO or Defense Research & Development Organization has developed the Arjuna Tank. The maximum speed of this missile is 67 km/hr, and it gathers its strength from the 1400 horsepower engine. In the year 2009, Arjuna Tank was encompassed in the Indian Army. Today, India has nearly 248 Arjuna Tanks.

• Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher – This is a multi-barrel launcher that the DRDO has developed for serving the Indian Army. Its Mark-I system is capable of hitting up to forty kilometres, and Mark-2 is capable of hitting up to 75 km. Pinaka had provided its faster reaction services at the time of the Kargil war, and it could neutralize the position of the enemy on the mountain top. Since 2014, India has produced nearly 5000 missiles. 

(Image will be Uploaded soon)

Indian Army Count - How many Forces are in India?

Nuclear Warheads – 110-120

Multiple Rocket Launcher – 292

Total Soldiers – The total army in India is 14 lakh active army, two million paramilitary forces, and 11.55 lakh reserve army.

Self-Propelled Guns – 290

Tanks – 6464

Towed Artillery Vehicles – 7414

Armoured Fighting Vehicle – 6704

In today’s world, a country takes the help of weapons for war, and so, the total force in India of the Indian army has been going strong with its defence forces’ three wings and the total Indian army in India.

Some Interesting Facts about India’s Defence Capabilities and Indian Total Force

India has the 2nd biggest standing army, which means 1.3 million active service personnel in the world. Hence, India has an impressive Indian military population.

Since the financial year 2011-2012, the No. of army in India has constantly accounted for 16 or 17% of the budget of the central government.

Unlike other countries that boast of having huge defence industries, the defence procurement needs of India are met commonly via imports.

The Indian government has taken many steps for promoting its domestic defence sector and the total number of soldiers in India, particularly with an intention to augment import substitution and indigenization.

In the year 2018, India made an announcement of a simple procedure named “Make In India”, and its aim is to lessen the approval time for the domestic private industry of India for winning defence contracts as well as reserving projects for the SMEs of India.