India's Defence System: An Overview of Army, Navy, Airforce, Missiles Ranks

The Indian Armed Forces, consisting of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, work together to safeguard the country against internal and external threats. In this article, we will explore the various aspects of India's defence system, including its army, navy, air force, tanks, artillery, aircraft, missiles, coast guard, ranks of armed forces, and national maritime security coordinator.

Indian Army

The Indian Army is the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces, with over 1.4 million active personnel. The army's primary objective is to defend the country's borders, maintain internal security, and assist in disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts. The Indian Army operates several tanks, including the T-90 Bhishma, Arjun Mk-1 and Mk-2, and T-72 Ajeya. The Indian Army also has a variety of artillery, including guns, howitzers, and rocket launchers, to support its infantry.

Tanks of Indian Army

The T-90 Bhishma is the primary battle tank of the Indian Army, and it is a Russian-made tank with advanced features. The T-90 Bhishma is equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun, which can fire a range of ammunition, including armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds. The tank also has a computerized fire control system, laser range-finder, thermal imaging sights, and night vision equipment, making it a formidable weapon in any battlefield.

The Arjun Mk-1 and Mk-2 tanks are indigenous tanks designed and built in India. These tanks are equipped with a 120mm rifled gun and have advanced features, such as composite armor, laser rangefinders, and night vision equipment. The T-72 Ajeya is a Russian-made tank, and it has been in service with the Indian Army for several decades.

List of Tanks and developed

1. Arjun Main Battle Tank: Developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Arjun tank entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. It is a third-generation main battle tank and is currently in limited service with the Indian Army.

2. T-90S Bhishma: The T-90S Bhishma is a Russian-made main battle tank that was inducted into the Indian Army in 2001. It is an upgraded version of the T-72 tank and features improved armor protection and a more powerful engine.

3. T-72 Ajeya: The T-72 Ajeya is a Soviet-made main battle tank that was introduced into the Indian Army in the early 1980s. It has undergone several upgrades over the years, including the fitting of explosive reactive armor and the integration of a thermal imaging system.

4. Vijayanta: The Vijayanta is a locally manufactured main battle tank that was in service with the Indian Army from the 1970s to the 1990s. It was the first indigenous tank produced by India.

5. Arjun MK-II: The Arjun MK-II is an upgraded version of the Arjun main battle tank. It features improved armor protection, a more powerful engine, and advanced fire control systems. The tank is currently undergoing trials and is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army soon.

6. T-72M1: The T-72M1 is a Czech-made main battle tank that was inducted into the Indian Army in the late 1980s. It features a 125mm smoothbore gun and is equipped with laser rangefinders and a fire control system.

7. Bhim Self-Propelled Howitzer: The Bhim is a self-propelled howitzer that was developed by the Ordnance Factory Board in India. It features a 155mm gun and is mounted on a modified T-72 tank chassis.

Artillery of Indian Army

The Indian Army's artillery consists of guns, howitzers, and rocket launchers. The army operates several types of artillery, including the Bofors 155mm howitzer, Dhanush 155mm gun, and Pinaka multiple rocket launcher. These artillery pieces provide long-range fire support to the infantry and can engage targets at a range of several kilometers.

List of some of the artillery weapons :

1. Bofors 155mm Howitzer: The Bofors howitzer is a Swedish-made 155mm towed artillery gun that was inducted into the Indian Army in the 1980s. It has a range of up to 30 km and is known for its accuracy and reliability.

2. Dhanush Artillery Gun: The Dhanush is an indigenously developed 155mm towed artillery gun that entered service with the Indian Army in 2019. It has a range of up to 38 km and is equipped with advanced features such as GPS navigation and an inertial navigation system.

3. Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher: The Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher system that was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It can fire up to 12 rockets with a range of up to 40 km.

4. Smerch Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher: The Smerch is a Russian-made multiple rocket launcher system that was inducted into the Indian Army in the late 2000s. It can fire up to 12 rockets with a range of up to 70 km.

5. M777 Ultra Light Howitzer: The M777 is a 155mm towed artillery gun that was imported from the United States. It has a range of up to 30 km and is known for its lightweight and high mobility.

6. K9 Vajra Self-Propelled Howitzer: The K9 Vajra is a South Korean-made self-propelled howitzer that was inducted into the Indian Army in 2019. It features a 155mm gun and has a range of up to 40 km.

7. Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS): The ATAGS is an indigenously developed 155mm towed artillery gun that is currently undergoing trials. It has a range of up to 48 km and is equipped with advanced features such as a muzzle velocity radar and an automatic loading system.

Indian Navy

The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces, and it is responsible for safeguarding India's maritime borders. The navy operates a range of ships, submarines, and aircraft, and it also has its own special forces unit, the Marine Commandos (MARCOS).

list of submarines and warships in service with the Indian Navy along with their country of origin:

Submarines:

1. INS Arihant: Developed by India as part of its indigenous nuclear submarine program.
2. INS Chakra: Built by Russia and leased to India.
3. INS Kalvari: Built by France in collaboration with India's Mazagon Dock Limited as part of the Scorpène-class submarine program.
4. INS Sindhughosh: Built by Russia and inducted into the Indian Navy in 1986.
5. INS Sindhurakshak: Built by Russia and inducted into the Indian Navy in 1997. It was unfortunately lost in a tragic accident in 2013.
6. INS Arighat: Developed by India as part of its indigenous nuclear submarine program.
7. INS Sindhuvir: Built by Russia and leased to India.

Warships:

1. INS Vikrant: Built by India's Cochin Shipyard Limited as part of India's indigenous aircraft carrier program.
2. INS Viraat: Originally built for the British Royal Navy, it was later decommissioned by them and then served in the Indian Navy from 1987 to 2017.
3. INS Kolkata-class: Built by India's Mazagon Dock Limited in collaboration with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers under the "Make in India" initiative.
4. INS Shivalik-class: Built by India's Mazagon Dock Limited under the "Make in India" initiative.
5. INS Kamorta-class: Built by India's Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers under the "Make in India" initiative.
6. INS Delhi-class: Built by Russia and inducted into the Indian Navy in the late 1990s.
7. INS Talwar-class: Built by Russia and later in India's Goa Shipyard Limited under the "Make in India" initiative.

Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force is responsible for protecting Indian airspace and providing air support to the army and navy during operations. The air force operates a range of aircraft, including fighter jets, transport planes, and helicopters.

Aircrafts of Indian Airforce

The Indian Air Force operates several types of aircraft, including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Dassault Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 fighter jets. The air force also operates transport planes, such as the C-17 Globemaster and the Boeing 737, which can transport troops, supplies, and equipment over long distances. The air force's helicopter fleet includes the Mi-17 transport helicopter and the Apache attack helicopter.

The aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force :

1. HAL Tejas: India's indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA).
2. Sukhoi Su-30MKI: Multirole fighter jet developed by Russia.
3. Dassault Rafale: Multirole fighter jet developed by France.
4. Mikoyan MiG-29: Fighter jet developed by Russia.
5. HAL HJT-36 Sitara: India's indigenously developed intermediate jet trainer.
6. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III: Heavy-lift transport aircraft developed by the United States.
7. Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules: Transport aircraft developed by the United States.
8. Boeing AH-64 Apache: Attack helicopter developed by the United States.
9. Mil Mi-17: Transport helicopter developed by Russia.
10. HAL Dhruv: India's indigenously developed utility helicopter.

Missiles

India has made significant strides in developing its missile technology over the past few decades. The Indian missile program includes ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and anti-tank missiles. The Agni series of ballistic missiles is one of India's most significant missile systems, with a range of up to 5,000 kilometers. India has also developed the Prithvi and BrahMos series of missiles, which have been successfully tested and deployed.

The BrahMos cruise missile is a joint venture between India and Russia and is one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world, with a speed of Mach 2.8. It can be launched from land, air, or sea, and it has a range of up to 290 kilometers.

List of some of the missiles:

1. Agni series: Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with ranges varying from 700 km (Agni-1) to over 5,500 km (Agni-5). The speed of Agni-5 is estimated to be around Mach 24 (29,400 km/h).

2. BrahMos: A supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia, with a range of 290 km and a top speed of Mach 2.8 (3,430 km/h).

3. Prithvi series: Tactical surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with ranges varying from 150 km (Prithvi-I) to 350 km (Prithvi-III).

4. Akash: A medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system with a range of 25 km and a top speed of Mach 2.5 (3,067 km/h).

5. Nag: A third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank missile with a range of 4-7 km.

6. Astra: An air-to-air missile with an active radar seeker and a range of up to 110 km. It has a top speed of Mach 4.5 (5,500 km/h).

7. Barak 8: A long-range surface-to-air missile developed jointly by India and Israel, with a range of up to 70 km and a top speed of Mach 2.

8. Nirbhay: A subsonic cruise missile with a range of over 1,000 km and a speed of Mach 0.8 (982 km/h).

9. Prahaar: A short-range ballistic missile with a range of 150 km and a top speed of Mach 2.3 (2,830 km/h).

10. Shaurya: A hypersonic missile with a range of 700 km and a speed of Mach 7 (8,600 km/h).

11. Sagarika: A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a range of 700 km.

12. Nag Helina: An air-launched version of the Nag anti-tank missile with a range of 7-8 km.

13. Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): An anti-ballistic missile system designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at high altitudes. It has a range of up to 2,000 km.

14. Advanced Air Defence (AAD): A missile interceptor system that works in conjunction with PAD to provide complete air defense coverage. It has a range of up to 200 km.

15. Shaurya-2: An upgraded version of the Shaurya hypersonic missile with a range of up to 1,000 km and a speed of Mach 12 (14,700 km/h).

16. HSTDV: A hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle designed to test and validate the technology for hypersonic missiles. It can reach speeds of up to Mach 6 (7,400 km/h).

17. Nirbhay-M: An upgraded version of the Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile with improved range and maneuverability. It has a range of up to 1,000 km.

18. Pinaka: A multiple rocket launcher system capable of firing up to 12 rockets in a salvo. It has a range of up to 75 km.

19. Helina: An air-launched version of the Nag anti-tank missile with a range of up to 7 km.

20. Prahaar-2: An upgraded version of the Prahaar short-range ballistic missile with improved range and accuracy. It has a range of up to 500 km.

Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard is responsible for protecting India's maritime interests and enforcing maritime laws. The Coast Guard operates a fleet of ships and aircraft, including patrol boats, offshore patrol vessels, and helicopters. The Coast Guard also has its own special forces unit, the Special Operations Group (SOG), which is responsible for conducting anti-piracy and anti-smuggling operations.

Ranks of Armed Forces

The Indian Armed Forces have a hierarchical system of ranks, with officers and soldiers being classified into different categories based on their role, experience, and seniority. The highest rank in the Indian Armed Forces is the Field Marshal, but this rank is honorary and has not been awarded since India gained independence. The highest active rank is that of the General in the Army, the Admiral in the Navy, and the Air Chief Marshal in the Air Force.

The Indian Armed Forces have a hierarchical rank structure in descending order:

1. Field Marshal (Honorary rank - no active Field Marshal in Indian Army)
2. General (Army) / Admiral (Navy) / Air Chief Marshal (Air Force)
3. Lieutenant General (Army) / Vice Admiral (Navy) / Air Marshal (Air Force)
4. Major General (Army) / Rear Admiral (Navy) / Air Vice Marshal (Air Force)
5. Brigadier (Army) / Commodore (Navy) / Air Commodore (Air Force)
6. Colonel (Army) / Captain (Navy) / Group Captain (Air Force)
7. Lieutenant Colonel (Army) / Commander (Navy) / Wing Commander (Air Force)
8. Major (Army) / Lieutenant Commander (Navy) / Squadron Leader (Air Force)
9. Captain (Army) / Lieutenant (Navy) / Flight Lieutenant (Air Force)
10. Lieutenant (Army) / Sub Lieutenant (Navy) / Flying Officer (Air Force)
11. Second Lieutenant (Army) / Officer Cadet (Navy) / Officer Cadet (Air Force)

In addition to these ranks, there are also various honorary ranks and titles conferred upon personnel in the Indian Armed Forces, such as Honorary Lieutenant, Honorary Captain, Honorary Major, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, and Honorary Colonel. These ranks are usually given to civilian officials or eminent personalities in recognition of their contributions to the defense establishment.

National Maritime Security Coordinator

The National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) is a position created by the Indian government to oversee the country's maritime security. The NMSC is responsible for coordinating and implementing various initiatives related to maritime security, including the development of maritime infrastructure, the deployment of naval and coast guard vessels, and the establishment of maritime intelligence centers.

In conclusion, the Indian Defence System is a crucial component of the country's national security. The Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard work together to safeguard the country's borders and maritime interests. The development of advanced technologies such as tanks, aircraft, and missiles has helped the Indian Armed Forces to enhance their capabilities, while the hierarchical system of ranks ensures a well-organized and disciplined force. The appointment of the National Maritime Security Coordinator further reinforces India's commitment to maritime security and underscores the importance of protecting its coastline and maritime interests.