Indian Armed Forces

Total Armed Forces:

active - 1,303,000

reserve - 535,000

Defence Budget:

1999 - $12.4 billion

2000 - $15.9 billion

Army: Indian Army

active - 1,100,000

36 combat divisions

3,500 tanks

160 helicopters

supporting artillery/air defense guns and missiles

Navy: Indian Navy

active - 53,000

16 SSK submarines

26 principal surface combatants (including 1 carrier)

38 patrol and coastal combatants

17 mine countermeasures

9 amphibious warfare ships

5,000-strong Naval Aviation arm with 37 total
combat aircraft and 72 armed helicopters

supporting air defense guns and missiles

Air Force: Indian Air Force

active - 150,000

774 total combat aircraft including
18 fighter/ground attack squadrons(367 aircraft)
20 fighter squadrons (368 aircraft)

3 attack helicopter squadrons (34 helicopters)

supporting air defense guns and missiles

Paramilitary Forces active - 1,069,000

Assessment:

Capable of defending homeland against all existing and foreseeable threats (China/Pakistan). India has force projection capabilities and an advanced technological and manufactoring base to support large scale weapon production. The force is primarily defensive in structure and there is little evidence that efforts are being undertaken to change this. However, tensions remain between India and Pakistan over Kashmir after their brief 1999 border conflict in the Kargil mountains. India has adopted a "minimum deterrent" policy after their 1998 underground nuclear tests, and reportedly had nuclear-armed missiles on alert during the Kargil crisis. Nuclear weapons make the Indian-Pakistani territorial dispute one of high stakes, which is compounded by weak systems of nuclear command and control.

Trends:

Over the past ten years, military spending has risen slightly in real terms. Personnel numbers in the Indian army have remained constant, with as many as 350,000 stationed in Kashmir. India has the military capability to execute force projection capabilities towards its neighbours and in regional sea lanes. Tensions in South Asia are high, as India continues to purchase weapons from Israel, France and Russia, including a new Russian aircraft carrier and 310 T-90 tanks, Russian Su-27 and French Mirage-2000 advanced fighters and submarines. Arms control agreements with Pakistan are lacking.