Armament of the Indian Army. indian air force

In the context of continued tension in relations with Russia, which is seen as a potential enemy of India, distrust and suspicion of China's policies in the region, and the instability of the internal political situation, the Indian leadership attaches special importance to the issues of further strengthening the armed forces and increasing their combat power. In accordance with the Army-2000 program adopted in the mid-80s, the combat capabilities of the armed forces are increased in the following areas: increasing their numbers and combat strength, improving the command and control system and the organizational structure of formations and units, equipping them with modern weapons and military equipment, increasing the efficiency of operational and combat training of headquarters and troops. As a result, according to the military-political leadership, the Indian armed forces will be able, if necessary, to conduct active offensive combat operations against Pakistan and at the same time tough defense on the Indian-Chinese border.

It is also envisaged to achieve self-sufficiency of the armed forces in weapons and equipment by the year 2000. For these purposes, it is planned to further increase military production, build new ones, modernize and expand existing defense enterprises, and intensify R&D in the military field. Currently, the needs for weapons and equipment are met through their production at their own enterprises and through purchases abroad. Military production in India is largely dependent on foreign assistance (purchase of licenses and technologies, supply of many types of raw materials, materials, semi-finished products, components and components, personnel training, etc.).

Until 1992, the main foreign supplier of modern weapons for India was the former Soviet Union. With the formation of the CIS, the Indian leadership did not refuse to continue military-economic cooperation with its independent states. At the same time, India, as foreign military experts note, has intensified efforts to develop relations in the military field with leading Western countries, and primarily with the United States.

A feature of military development in India is strict adherence to the principles of the supremacy of civilian power over the armed forces and their non-participation in political life countries. Military personnel are prohibited from being members of any political parties, trade unions or other public organizations, take part in events held by them, speak in the media expressing their political views, and also stand as candidates for parliament, although they have the right to vote.

Bodies of higher military command. According to the Indian Constitution, the supreme commander of the armed forces is the president, who acts in accordance with the recommendations of the cabinet and the prime minister. In practice, the most important decisions on the main aspects of internal and foreign policy, including problems of military development, are adopted by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. The committee includes: the Prime Minister (Chairman), the Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Finance and Industry. If necessary, other ministers are invited to committee meetings, and when considering military issues, the chiefs of staff (commanders) of the armed forces are invited. Organizational work on the preparation of draft decisions and their implementation, as well as on analyzing the state and developing the main directions for the development of the armed forces is carried out by the Defense Planning Committee - a permanent body that is part of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Ministry of Defense is the highest administrative body that carries out government policy in the field of military development. Its functions include: issues of the general development of the armed forces, their logistics and financial support, planning and organization of R&D, military production and weapons procurement; organizing interaction with the Cabinet of Ministers and departments; administrative and administrative issues; coordination of the actions of the armed forces in peacetime.

The Minister of Defense (a civilian) exercises operational leadership of the armed forces through the Committee of Chiefs of Staff (CHS) of the branches of the armed forces. Three departments are subordinate to him (defense, military production and supplies, research and development), a number of committees (Minister of Defense, chiefs of staff of the armed forces, joint intelligence, military production and supplies, mobilization deployment), as well as Defense Research and Development Council. The departments, headed by the respective secretaries of the Ministry of Defense, consist of directorates (directorates).

Committees created under the Minister of Defense serve as liaison bodies between military and civilian government agencies, between the Ministry of Defense and the branches of the armed forces. The Committee of the Minister of Defense has two subcommittees: on personnel and on issues of material and technical support for troops. The KNS is a body for the operational management of the armed forces and at the same time an advisory body on fundamental issues of the development and use of armed forces. Its chairman is appointed concurrently as the chief of staff of one of the branches of the armed forces, the senior in terms of tenure in this position. The KNS is subordinate to nine subcommittees: operational planning, combat training, logistics support, interaction between types of armed forces, development and improvement of weapons and military equipment, electronic warfare, intelligence (radio interception and decryption), communications and electronics, medical support.

The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) is the highest coordinating body of military intelligence. It consists of the heads of intelligence services of the armed forces, their deputies for counterintelligence, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ORK has two subcommittees: internal and external intelligence. Documents developed by the ORC are reported to the Minister of Defense, as well as to the Supreme Intelligence Council under the Prime Minister's Secretariat. The Committee on Military Production and Supply develops plans for the production of weapons and military equipment, coordinates the activities of military factories and civilian enterprises producing military products, and plans purchases abroad.

The Committee on Mobilization Deployment is developing plans for transferring the system of public administration and the economy to a wartime operating mode, as well as the mobilization deployment of the armed forces and their reserve components in a threatened period, such as the outbreak of war. It consists of: the Minister of Defense (chairman), the Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers, and secretaries of departments of the Ministry of Defense.

The Defense Research and Development Council formulates R&D programs in the interests of the armed forces, monitors their financial support and training of scientific and technical personnel, and controls the activities of the R&D department of the Ministry of Defense.

The Indian Armed Forces (see picture) consists of the Army, Air Force and Navy. Their total number, according to foreign military experts, is about 1.3 million people.

Ground forces number 1.1 million people. They are directly supervised by the chief of staff (also known as the commander). The headquarters plans and organizes operational and combat training, develops the organizational structure of formations and units, plans for the development, mobilization and operational deployment of troops, and also controls the daily activities of subordinate headquarters, formations, units and military educational institutions.

The main components of the ground forces are: infantry, mechanized and armored forces, artillery, air defense troops, army aviation, as well as engineering and signal troops.

Organizationally, they are divided into five military districts (Northern, Western, Eastern, Central, Southern), which are administrative control bodies. All troops and military institutions stationed in the district, with the exception of formations and units of central subordination, are subordinate to the District Commander.

The combat strength of the ground forces includes 11 army corps, 36 combined arms divisions (including two armored, one mechanized, 17 infantry, five motorized infantry, 11 mountain infantry), 16 separate brigades (seven armored, six infantry, two mountain infantry, one paratroop), seven artillery (one rocket artillery) and eight anti-aircraft artillery brigades, eight army aviation squadrons, individual regiments and battalions, as well as combat support and logistics units.

The ground forces are armed with about 3,200 battle tanks "Vijayanta", T-55 and T-72, over 3,900 field artillery guns, about 2,500 mortars of 81, 120 and 160 mm calibers, ATGM "Milan", SS-11-B1, " Malyutka", "Fagot" (total about 700 PU), up to 2500 57- and 106-mm recoilless rifles, air defense systems "Tiger Cat", "Kvadrat", "Strela-10", "Osa-AKM" (total to 100 PU ), over 1,700 23- and 40-mm anti-aircraft guns, about 1,500 armored combat vehicles, including over 100 PT-76 amphibious tanks, up to 1,200 BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, about 150 Chetak combat support helicopters " and "Chitah".

The highest tactical formation of the ground forces is army corps, the combat and numerical strength of which is determined by the nature of the tasks assigned to it. It may include two to four divisions (including one armored), one or two separate brigades (one armored), one or two artillery brigades and one anti-aircraft artillery. During the strategic exercise of the Indian Armed Forces "Brass Tech" (November 1986 - March 1987), for the first time in the history of the Indian Army, issues of conducting combat operations were worked out on the scale of such an operational formation as a field army, which included three army corps.

Division is the main tactical formation.

Has the greatest striking power armored division(18,800 people). It includes three armored brigades (a total of six tank and four mechanized regiments) and one artillery brigade (four medium self-propelled artillery regiments, one anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery and one light anti-aircraft artillery), separate regiments (reconnaissance, engineering and communications), and logistics support units. The division is armed with up to 280 combat and 54 amphibious tanks, over 200 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 72 130-mm self-propelled guns, 24 81-mm mortars, 32 106-mm recoilless rifles, 56 23-mm self-propelled and towed anti-aircraft guns.

Mechanized Division(18,700 people) has three mechanized brigades (two mechanized regiments and one tank) and one artillery brigade (the same composition as in the armored division), separate regiments (communications and engineering), and logistics support units. It is armed with 138 battle tanks, over 320 infantry fighting vehicles, 72 130-mm self-propelled guns, 36 81-mm mortars, 48 ​​106-mm recoilless rifles, and 56 anti-aircraft weapons.

IN infantry division(16,500 people) includes three infantry brigades (three infantry battalions each) and one artillery brigade (one medium and three field artillery regiments, one light mortar), separate regiments (tank, communications and engineering), and logistics support units. It is armed with 45 battle tanks, 72 field artillery guns, 66 mortars of 81 and 120 mm calibers, and 72 106 mm recoilless rifles.

Motorized Infantry Division(15,700 people) is a reorganized infantry division, which instead of one infantry division includes a mechanized brigade (two mechanized regiments and one tank), and the other two brigades are motorized infantry (on vehicles or armored personnel carriers). In some motorized infantry divisions, mechanized brigades were reorganized into armored brigades. The number of tanks in the division has increased to 90 units, and there are also over 100 infantry fighting vehicles, which has increased the striking power and mobility of the motorized infantry division compared to the infantry division.

Mountain infantry divisions designed for combat operations mainly in the northern and northeastern states of India. Each division (15,500 people) has three mountain infantry brigades (three mountain infantry battalions each) and one artillery brigade (three mountain artillery regiments and one mortar), combat and logistics support units. Unlike other types of divisions, a mountain infantry division has horse-drawn transport and pack animal units. Recently, medium artillery regiments (18 155-mm Swedish-made FH-77B howitzers) have been introduced into the artillery brigades of some mountain infantry divisions. The division is armed with 54 75-mm howitzers, 66 mortars of 81 and 120 mm calibers, and 36 57-mm recoilless rifles. Individual brigades (4.5-5.5 thousand people) have, as a rule, three battalions of the corresponding type of troops, one or two artillery regiments, and combat and logistics support units. A separate armored brigade may include a mechanized regiment.

The ground forces modernization program provides for the introduction of automated control systems, improvement of the organizational structure of formations and units, and equipping them with modern weapons and military equipment. Some infantry divisions include armored brigades. The issue of forming an artillery division and a separate mechanized brigade is being considered. The ground forces are receiving 155-mm Swedish howitzers, license-produced T-72 tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and the T-55 tanks are being modernized (105-mm guns and more modern fire control devices are being installed) and Vijayanta. By the mid-90s, it is planned to equip the ground forces with nationally developed operational-tactical missile systems.

Air Force are designed to perform the following main tasks: gaining and maintaining air superiority, providing direct air support to ground forces and naval forces, isolating the combat area, covering troops and important objects from enemy air strikes, and conducting aerial reconnaissance. They include combat and auxiliary aviation, air defense forces and means. The Air Force has 40 air wings, which include 45 combat aviation squadrons (about 800 aircraft) and 43 support aviation squadrons (up to 300 aircraft and about 300 helicopters), as well as five anti-aircraft guided missile wings (52 SAM squadrons, 300 SAM launchers "Dvina", "Osa-AKM" and "Pechora").

The air wing is considered the tactical wing of the Indian Air Force. It consists of a headquarters, one to four aviation squadrons, combat support and logistics units. It may include squadrons of various types of aviation. The aviation squadron is the main tactical unit, capable of operating independently or as part of an air wing. It includes three detachments, two of which are combat (flight), the third is technical. The squadron is armed with aircraft of the same type, the number of which depends on the purpose of the squadron: 20 in the fighter-bomber, 16 in the rest. Combat aviation includes bomber (two squadrons, 20 Canberra B-58 light bombers), fighter-bomber (21 squadrons, about 400 fighter-bombers "Adjit", "Hunter", "Jaguar", MiG-23BN, MiG-27m, MiG-21bis, "Mirage" 2000), fighter air defense (20 squadrons, about 340 MiG- 21 different modifications, MiG-23MF, MiG-29), reconnaissance (two squadrons, up to 30 reconnaissance aircraft Canberra PR-57, HS-748R, MiG-25rb).

The auxiliary aviation includes transport aviation units (11 squadrons, about 150 Il-76, An-32, An-12, HS-748, Dornier-228 aircraft) and communications aircraft, as well as combat training and training squadrons. In addition, the Air Force has squadrons of combat helicopters (about 30 Mi-25 and Mi-35), combat support helicopters and transport helicopters (Mi-8, Li-17, Mi-26, Chetak, Chitah).

All aviation is distributed among the following five air commands: Western, Southwestern, Central, Eastern, Southern. Their commanders are responsible for the combat readiness of aviation units and subunits, plan and conduct command-wide operational and combat training activities, and organize interaction with the ground forces and navy. The Air Force also has two functional commands: logistics and training.

Air defense forces and means include units of air defense fighter aircraft (from the Air Force), anti-aircraft guided missiles and radio technical troops (radio technical squadrons, stationary and mobile radar posts). India has five air defense regions, the boundaries of which coincide with the boundaries of the respective air commands. Air defense areas are divided into sectors - from one to three. The sector is the lowest territorial and main tactical air defense unit, within which planning of combat operations and management of forces and means is carried out.

The Air Force construction plan provides for a further increase in the combat capabilities of this type of armed forces, primarily through the re-equipment of units and subunits with modern aircraft and air defense systems. The troops continue to receive Jaguar and MiG-27M fighter-bombers, which are being built under license at Indian aviation industry enterprises and are intended to replace outdated Hunter and Ajit aircraft. Work is underway to create a light combat aircraft and a nationally developed multi-purpose helicopter.

To increase the effectiveness of air defense, measures are being taken to improve the control system for air defense forces, equipping units and subunits with more advanced means of detecting air targets and controlling them, including those produced in-house. Work on the creation of domestic anti-aircraft missile systems of various ranges is at the final stage.

Designed to conduct independent combat operations to protect the country's coast, island territories and sea communications, as well as to destroy enemy surface combat ships and submarines in the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, ensure landings and operations of amphibious assault forces, and support ground forces in coastal areas.

Organizationally, the Navy consists of three naval commands (Western, Southern and Eastern with headquarters at the main naval bases of Bombay, Cochin and Vizagapatnam, respectively), naval aviation and coastal artillery units. The Western and Eastern Commands are operational and have operational fleets (Western and Eastern), while the Southern Command is a training one.

The Western Fleet includes individual warships, including two English-built anti-submarine aircraft carriers Vikrant (Majestic type) and Viraat (Hermes), four Project 61M URO destroyers, three Project 16 URO frigates, two frigates Linder type, three divisions of submarines (ten units in total), one division each of small missile ships (five), patrol ships (three), sea minesweepers (six) and missile boats (eight). The Eastern Fleet includes individual warships, including a Project 61M URO destroyer and four Linder-class frigates, as well as two divisions of submarines (eight units), one division of small missile ships (two), one small anti-submarine ships (eight) , missile boats (eight), two tank landing ships (nine).

In total, the Indian Navy, judging by the foreign press, has up to 85 warships, including 18 diesel torpedo submarines, two anti-submarine aircraft carriers, 16 missile ships, 20 anti-submarine ships, nine landing ships and nine mine-sweeping ships, about 40 combat boats, of which 16 are missile boats. The fleet aviation is equipped with aircraft and helicopters of carrier-based and base aviation for various purposes, which are organized into aviation and helicopter squadrons. In total there are over 40 combat aircraft and about 70 helicopters, including 22 Sea Harrier Mk51 carrier-based fighters, eight Tu-142M long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, five Il-38 anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft, four Breguet 1050 Alize anti-submarine aircraft, ten Islander patrol aircraft, 20 Ka-25pl and Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters, up to 40 Sea King anti-submarine helicopters.

Coastal artillery is designed to protect naval bases and naval forces from enemy attack from the sea. Organizationally, it consists of an anti-ship missile battalion, a coastal artillery battalion, and separate missile and artillery batteries. It is armed with 18 anti-ship missile launchers, over 40 coastal and anti-aircraft artillery guns,

In accordance with the plans of the Indian command, it is planned to further increase the combat capabilities of the Navy by increasing the quantitative composition of the fleet forces through both the purchase of ships abroad and construction at national shipyards, as well as by modernizing the ships in service.

It is planned to commission into service the lead destroyer in the series, the URO "Delhi" (Project 15), a self-built destroyer, and a second Project 1500 submarine, built in India under a German license (in addition to two boats of this project supplied from Germany).

The armed forces are recruited through the recruitment of volunteers from among Indian male citizens, regardless of their religious or caste affiliation. It is allowed to recruit Nepalese residents (Gurkha units) into the Indian army, and for non-combatant service - female specialists.

Recruitment of recruits is carried out through a network of recruitment points (from 60 to 70 points for each type of armed forces). Age of recruits: 15 - 19 years for service in the Air Force, 16-25 years in the ground forces. The educational qualification, depending on the type of armed forces and the future specialty, also varies from primary to secondary. All recruits must be healthy and meet the following standards physical development: height - at least 164 cm, chest volume - 78 cm, weight - 51 kg. Persons recruited for service are sent to undergo military training at regimental training centers of the ground forces, training centers and technical schools of the Air Force, and schools for naval officers. The terms of service are: in the ground forces - ten years in the ranks and five in the reserve, in the Air Force and Navy - 15 and six.

NCOs are selected from among the most trained soldiers and sailors who have served for a certain period of time in regular units and have demonstrated ability for military service. Preparation and improvement of professional skills of non-commissioned officers are carried out in special courses at training centers. Duration of study on courses is from three months to a year

The selection of candidates and staffing of military educational institutions for training officers is carried out at the expense of graduates of children's paramilitary schools (by type Suvorov schools), graduates of the National Cadet Corps, students and graduates of civilian educational institutions, as well as the most trained soldiers and sailors who have expressed a desire to become officers. Initial military training of cadets for all branches of the armed forces is carried out at the National Military Academy (training period is two to three years depending on the faculty). After this, the cadets are sent to specialized schools and colleges of the armed forces and branches of the military, upon completion of which they are awarded the primary officer rank. Civilian youth from among graduates of higher educational institutions are also accepted into the schools of the armed forces.

During their service, officers periodically undergo training and retraining at special courses operating at military schools, which is a prerequisite for promotion. The final stage of officer training is training at the National Defense College (Delhi). It includes officers of all branches of the armed forces with the rank of brigadier (as an exception - colonel), as well as senior officials of the Ministry of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Communications.

Military ranks up to and including major are assigned upon expiration of length of service in the previous rank, and from lieutenant colonel and above - selectively on a competitive basis if there are vacancies and taking into account length of service in the previous rank. The following periods of service have been established for the assignment of regular military ranks: lieutenant - two years, captain - three, major - six years, lieutenant colonel and colonel - four years, brigadier - two, major general and lieutenant general - three. The rank of general and its corresponding ranks in the Air Force and Navy are assigned regardless of length of service in the previous rank simultaneously with appointment to the position of chief of staff (commander) of the corresponding branch of the armed forces. Before being awarded a military rank, officers pass certification exams. Those who fail the exam 3 times in a row are considered incapable of further service and are transferred to the reserve. The corresponding age limits for service in the armed forces have been established: from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel - 50 years, colonel - 52 years, brigadier - 54, major general - 56 years, lieutenant general - 58, general - 60. Military ranks of officers of the armed forces India are given in the table.

The salary of officers and generals consists of salaries according to position and military rank, as well as additional payments. Although it is considered quite modest in size, it is 2-3 times higher than the salaries of other civil servants. Monthly salary for an officer. composition without additional payments ranges from 92 US dollars for a second lieutenant to 204 for a brigadier and 360 for a general. In addition to the basic salary, officers are awarded additional payments, including when assigning the primary officer rank, for a certain amount years of service in officer positions, for knowledge foreign language, for serving in areas where officers are without families.

The Indian Armed Forces are implementing a set of measures aimed at increasing social security and improving the material and living situation of military personnel: providing officers with living space and full compensation for rent in case of rent, providing free food rations and selling a number of goods to officers on preferential terms, payment of funds for the purchase and maintenance of military uniforms, compensation to officers and members of their families transport costs when moving to a new duty station, to the place of annual leave and back, free medical care for officers, members of their families and parents of officers, exemption from paying all types of taxes, compensation to officers (or members of their families) for damages in the event of the death of an officer, receiving injury or disability.

Colonel A. Prokopyev

India is the fourth most powerful army in the world

India, together with the DPRK and Israel, is one of the second three countries in the world in terms of military potential (the first three, of course, are the USA, China and Russia). The personnel of the Indian Armed Forces (AF) have high level combat and moral-psychological training, although it is recruited for hire. In India, as in Pakistan, due to the huge population and complex ethno-religious situation, recruiting the armed forces by conscription is not possible.

The country is the most important importer of weapons from Russia and maintains close military-technical cooperation with France and Great Britain, and more recently with the United States. At the same time, India has a huge domestic military-industrial complex, which, theoretically, is capable of producing weapons and equipment of all classes, including nuclear weapons and means of its delivery. However, weapons developed in India itself (the Arjun tank, the Tejas fighter, the Dhruv helicopter, etc.), as a rule, have very low technical and tactical characteristics (TTX), and their development has been going on for decades. The assembly quality of equipment manufactured under foreign licenses is often very low, which is why the Indian Air Force has the highest accident rate in the world. However, India has every reason to claim the title of one of the world's superpowers in the 21st century.

Xie Crets of the Indian Armed Forces

WITH The Indian ground forces include the Training Command (headquarters in the city of Shimla) and six territorial commands - Central, Northern, Western, Southwestern, Southern, Eastern. At the same time, the 50th Airborne Brigade, 2 regiments of the Agni IRBM, 1 regiment of the Prithvi-1 OTR, and 4 regiments of the Brahmos cruise missiles are directly subordinate to the headquarters of the ground forces.

The central command includes one army corps (AK) - the 1st. It consists of infantry, mountain, armored, artillery divisions, artillery, air defense, and engineering brigades. Currently, the 1st AK is temporarily transferred to the Southwestern Command, so the Central Command, in fact, has no combat forces.

The Northern Command includes three army corps - 14th, 15th, 16th. They consist of 5 infantry and 2 mountain divisions, and an artillery brigade.

The Western Command also includes three AKs - 2nd, 9th, 11th. They consist of 1 armored, 1 RRF, 6 infantry divisions, 4 armored, 1 mechanized, 1 engineering, 1 air defense brigades.

The Southwestern Command includes an artillery division, the 1st AK, temporarily transferred from the Central Command (described above), and the 10th AK, which includes an infantry and 2 RRF divisions, an armored tank, an air defense, and an engineering brigade.

The Southern Command includes an artillery division and two AKs - the 12th and 21st. They consist of 1 armored, 1 RRF, 3 infantry divisions, armored, mechanized, artillery, air defense, and engineering brigades.

The Eastern Command includes an infantry division and three AKs (3rd, 4th, 33rd) with three mountain divisions each.

The ground forces own the majority of India's nuclear missile potential. Two regiments each have 8 Agni IRBM launchers. In total, there are supposedly 80-100 Agni-1 missiles (flight range 1500 km), and 20-25 Agni-2 missiles (2-4 thousand km). The only regiment of the OTR "Prithvi-1" (range 150 km) has 12 launchers (PU) of this missile. All these ballistic missiles were developed in India itself and can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. Each of the 4 regiments of Brahmos cruise missiles (jointly developed by Russia and India) has 4-6 batteries, each with 3-4 launchers. The total number of Brahmos GLCM launchers is 72. Brahmos is perhaps the most versatile missile in the world; it is also in service with the Air Force (its carrier is the Su-30 fighter-bomber) and the Indian Navy (many submarines and surface ships) .

India has a very powerful and modern tank fleet. It includes 124 indigenously developed Arjun tanks (124 more will be manufactured), 907 of the latest Russian T-90s (another 750 will be manufactured in India under Russian license) and 2,414 Soviet T-72Ms, modernized in India. In addition, 715 old Soviet T-55s and up to 1,100 equally old Vijayanta tanks of our own production (English Vickers Mk1) are in storage.

Unlike tanks, other armored vehicles of the Indian Army are generally very outdated. There are 255 Soviet BRDM-2, 100 English Ferret armored vehicles, 700 Soviet BMP-1 and 1100 BMP-2 (another 500 will be manufactured in India), 700 Czechoslovak OT-62 and OT-64 armored personnel carriers, 165 South African Casspir armored vehicles ", 80 British FV432 armored personnel carriers. Of all the listed equipment, only the BMP-2 can be considered new, and very conditionally. In addition, 200 very old Soviet BTR-50 and 817 BTR-60 are in storage.

Much of the Indian artillery was also obsolete. There are 100 Catapult self-propelled guns of our own design (130-mm M-46 howitzer on the chassis of the Vijayanta tank; another 80 such self-propelled guns are in storage), 80 English Abbotts (105 mm), 110 Soviet 2S1 (122 mm). Towed guns - more than 4.3 thousand in the army, more than 3 thousand in storage. Mortars - about 7 thousand. But there are no modern examples among them. MLRS - 150 Soviet BM-21 (122 mm), 80 own Pinaka (214 mm), 62 Russian Smerch (300 mm). Of all the Indian artillery systems, only the Pinaka and Smerch MLRS can be considered modern.

It is armed with 250 Russian Kornet ATGMs and 13 Namika self-propelled ATGMs (Nag ATGMs of our own design on the BMP-2 chassis). In addition, there are several thousand French ATGMs “Milan”, Soviet and Russian “Malyutka”, “Konkurs”, “Fagot”, “Sturm”.

Military air defense includes 45 batteries (180 launchers) of the Soviet Kvadrat air defense system, 80 Soviet Osa air defense systems, 400 Strela-1, 250 Strela-10, 18 Israeli Spider, 25 British Tigercat. Also in service are 620 Soviet Strela-2 and 2000 Igla-1 MANPADS, 92 Russian Tunguska air defense missile systems, 100 Soviet ZSU-23-4 Shilka, 2720 anti-aircraft guns (800 Soviet ZU-23, 1920 Swedish L40/70). Of all the air defense equipment, only the Spider air defense system and the Tunguska air defense system are modern; the Osa and Strela-10 air defense systems and the Igla-1 air defense system can be considered relatively new.

The Army Aviation has about 300 helicopters, almost all of which are locally produced.

The Indian Air Force includes 7 Commands - Western, Central, South-Western, Eastern, Southern Training, MTO.

The Air Force has 3 squadrons of Prithvi-2 OTR (18 launchers each) with a firing range of 250 km and can carry conventional and nuclear warheads.

Strike aircraft include 107 Soviet MiG-27 bombers and 157 British Jaguar attack aircraft (114 IS, 11 IM, 32 combat training IT). All these aircraft, built under license in India itself, are obsolete.

The basis of fighter aircraft is the latest Russian Su-30MKI, built under license in India itself. There are at least 194 vehicles of this type in service, with a total of 272 to be built. As mentioned above, they can carry the Brahmos cruise missile. Also quite modern are 74 Russian MiG-29 (including 9 combat training UBs; 1 more in storage), 9 own Tejas and 48 French Mirage-2000 (38 N, 10 combat training TN) . 230 MiG-21 fighters remain in service (146 bis, 47 MF, 37 combat training U and UM), also built in India under Soviet license. Instead of the MiG-21, it is planned to purchase 126 French Rafale fighters, in addition, 144 5th generation FGFA fighters based on the Russian T-50 will be built in India.

The Air Force has 5 AWACS aircraft (3 Russian A-50, 2 Swedish ERJ-145), 3 American aircraft electronic reconnaissance "Gulfstream-4", 6 Russian Il-78 tankers, about 300 transport aircraft (including 17 Russian Il-76, 5 newest American C-17 (there will be from 5 to 13 more) and 5 C-130J ), about 250 training aircraft.

The Air Force is armed with 30 combat helicopters (24 Russian Mi-35s, 4 own Rudras and 2 LCHs), 360 multi-purpose and transport helicopters.

Ground-based air defense includes 25 squadrons (at least 100 launchers) of the Soviet S-125 air defense system, at least 24 Osa air defense systems, 8 squadrons of its own Akash air defense system (64 launchers).

The Indian Navy includes three Commands - Western (Bombay), Southern (Cochin), Eastern (Vishakhapatnam).

There is 1 SSBN "Arihant" of its own construction with 12 SLBMs K-15 (range - 700 km), it is planned to build 3 more. However, due to the short range of the missiles, these boats cannot be considered full-fledged SSBNs. The Chakra submarine is on lease (Russian Nerpa submarine pr. 971).

There are 9 Russian submarines, Project 877, in service (another such boat burned out and sank in its own base at the end of last year) and 4 German submarines, Project 209/1500. 3 newest French Scorpene-class submarines are being built; a total of 6 of them will be built.

The Indian Navy has 2 aircraft carriers - Viraat (formerly English Hermes) and Vikramaditya (formerly Soviet Admiral Gorshkov). Two of its own Vikrant-class aircraft carriers are being built.

There are 9 destroyers: 5 Rajput type (Soviet Project 61), 3 own Delhi type and 1 Calcutta type (2-3 more Calcutta type destroyers will be built).

There are 6 newest Russian-built frigates of the “Talvar” type (Project 11356) and 3 even more modern own-built frigates of the “Shivalik” type in service. Three frigates each of the Brahmaputra and Godavari types, built in India according to British designs, remain in service.

The Navy has the newest corvette "Kamorta" (there will be from 4 to 12), 4 corvettes of the "Kora" type, 4 of the "Khukri" type, 4 of the "Abhay" type (Soviet project 1241P).

There are 12 Veer-type missile boats (Soviet Project 1241R) in service.

All destroyers, frigates and corvettes (except Abhay) are armed with modern Russian and Russian-Indian SLCMs and anti-ship missiles "Brahmos", "Caliber", X-35.

The Navy and Coast Guard operate up to 150 patrol ships and patrol boats. Among them are 6 ships of the Sakanya class, which can carry the Prithvi-3 ballistic missile (range 350 km). These are the world's only surface combatants with ballistic missiles.

The Indian Navy has a very small mine-sweeping force. They consist of only 7 Soviet minesweepers, Project 266M.

The landing forces include the Jalashva DVKD (American Austin type), 5 old Polish TDK Project 773 (3 more in storage), 5 own Magar type TDK. At the same time, India does not have a marine corps, it only has a marine special forces group.

Naval aviation is armed with 63 carrier-based fighters - 45 MiG-29K (including 8 combat training MiG-29KUB), 18 Harriers (14 FRS, 4 T). The MiG-29Ks are designed for the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier and the Vikrant-class aircraft carriers under construction, and the Harriers for the Viraat.

Anti-submarine aircraft - 5 old Soviet Il-38 and 7 Tu-142M (1 more in storage), 3 newest American P-8I (there will be 12).

There are 52 German Do-228 patrol aircraft, 37 transport aircraft, 12 HJT-16 training aircraft.

Naval aviation also has 12 Russian Ka-31 AWACS helicopters, 41 anti-submarine helicopters (18 Soviet Ka-28 and 5 Ka-25, 18 British Sea King Mk42V), about 100 multi-purpose and transport helicopters.

In general, the Indian Armed Forces have enormous combat potential and significantly exceed the potential of their traditional enemy Pakistan. However, now India’s main enemy is China, whose allies are Pakistan, as well as Myanmar and Bangladesh, which border India to the east. This makes India's geopolitical position very difficult, and its military potential, paradoxically, insufficient.

Cooperation with Russia

Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation is exclusive. The point is not even that India has been the largest buyer of Russian weapons for several years. Moscow and Delhi are already engaged in joint development of weapons, and unique ones, such as the Brahmos missile or the FGFA fighter. Leasing submarines has no analogues in world practice (only the USSR and India had a similar experience in the late 80s). The Indian Armed Forces now operate more T-90 tanks, Su-30 fighters, and X-35 anti-ship missiles than in all other countries of the world combined, including Russia itself.

At the same time, alas, not everything is rosy in our relations. Surprisingly, many officials in Moscow have still managed not to notice that India is already almost a superpower, and is by no means the former “third world” country that will buy everything we offer it. As opportunities and ambitions grow, so do Indian demands. Hence the numerous scandals in the field of military-technical cooperation, most of which are Russia's own fault. The epic with the sale of the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, which deserves a large separate description, especially stands out against this background.

However, it must be admitted that such scandals arise in Delhi not only with Moscow. In particular, during the implementation of both major Indian-French contracts (on the Scorpen submarine and on the Rafale fighters), the same thing is happening as with the Vikramaditya - a multiple increase in the price of products and a significant delay by the French in terms of their production. In the case of the Rafales, this could even lead to the termination of the contract.

It’s not all rosy in the sphere of geopolitics, which is much worse. India is our ideal ally. There are no contradictions, there are great traditions of cooperation, and what is especially important is that we have common main opponents - a group of Sunni Islamic countries and China. Alas, Russia began to impose on India the delusional idea of ​​the “Moscow-Delhi-Beijing triangle”, generated by one of our “outstanding political figures”. Then this idea was very “successfully” supported by the West, throwing in the idea of ​​BRIC (now BRICS), which Moscow grabbed with delight and began to passionately implement. Meanwhile, Delhi absolutely does not need an alliance with Beijing, its main geopolitical adversary and economic competitor. She needs an alliance AGAINST Beijing. It is in this format that she would be happy to be friends with Moscow. Now India is persistently being pulled over by the United States, which understands very well who Delhi is going to be friends with.The only thing that keeps India from completely diverging from “China-loving” Russia is the aforementioned exclusive military-technical cooperation. Maybe, to some extent, it will save us from ourselves.