India’s Defence Set-Up

The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defence has administrative control over the armed forces.

Commissioned Ranks

The following are the commissioned ranks in the three armed services:

Army

• Headed by the Chief of Army Staff
• Headquarters in New Delhi

The Chief of the Army Staff is assisted by the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff.

Air Force

• Headed by the Chief of the Air Staff
• Headquarters in New Delhi

The Chief of the Air Staff is assisted by the Vice-Chief of the Air Staff.

Navy

• Headed by the Chief of the Naval Staff
• Headquarters in New Delhi

The Chief of the Naval Staff is assisted by the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff.

Army Staff and Principal Staff Officers:

The Army Staff consists of two Deputy Chiefs, the Adjutant General, the Master General of Ordinance, the Quarter-Master General, Military Security, and the Engineer-in-Chief.

Commands:

There are seven commands in the Indian Army:

• Western Command (Headquarters: Chandimandir)
• Eastern Command (Headquarters: Kolkata)
• Northern Command (Headquarters: Udhampur)
• Southern Command (Headquarters: Pune)
• Central Command (Headquarters: Lucknow)
• Training Command (Headquarters: Mhow)
• South-Western Command (Headquarters: Jaipur)

Each command is led by a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Nuclear and Strategic Force Command:

There is also a Nuclear and Strategic Force Command in the Indian Army.

Combat Vehicles:

The Indian Army uses a variety of combat vehicles, including:

• Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): T-90S Bhishma, Arjun Mk1, Upgraded T-72M1 Ajeya
• Light Battle Tanks (LBTs): PT-76 (Amphibious) and AMX-13 light tanks
• Combat Vehicles: Ferret armoured cars, BRDM-2 amphibious reconnaissance vehicles, BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and OT-64 SKOT armoured personnel carriers.

India’s Missiles and Other Artillery

• India has different types of missiles, including medium-range ballistic missiles like Agni-II and Agni-IIAT. Agni-II can be launched quickly, within 15 minutes of being ready.
• India also has short-range ballistic missiles like SS-150/Prithvi-I, SS-250/Prithvi-III, and Agni-I.
• India uses Multiple Rocket Launch Systems like Smerch 9K58, Pinaka, and BM-21. BM-21 is being phased out.
• India has different types of Howitzers, including Abbot, M-46 Catapult, Bofors FH-77B, Soltam M-46, IFG Mk 1/2/3 field guns, Soltom M-46, and D-30.

India’s Air Defence Artillery

• India has Tunguska M1 and upgraded ZSU-23-4M Schilka self-propelled air defence guns.
• India also has Bofors L40/70 (40 mm) AA guns.

Air Force

• The head of the Air Force is called the Chief of Air Staff.
• The headquarters of the Air Force is in New Delhi.

The Chief of Air Staff is helped by:

1. Vice-Chief of Air Staff
2. Deputy Chief of Air Staff
3. Central Air Command
4. Officer Incharge, Maintenance
5. Inspector General, Flight Safety and Inspection

Number of Commands

The Indian Air Force has seven commands. Five of these commands are operational, and two are functional.

Five Operational Commands

1. HQ Central Air Command, Allahabad
2. HQ Eastern Air Command, Shillong
3. HQ Western Air Command, New Delhi
4. HQ Southern Air Command, Thiruvananthapuram
5. HQ South-Western Air Command, Gandhi Nagar

Two Functional Commands

1.HQ Maintenance Command,Nagpur:

• Nagpur is a city in India.

2.HQ Training Command, Bangalore:

• There is a training center for the Indian Air Force in Bangalore, India.

Aircraft:

• The Indian Air Force has many different types of aircraft.

Helicopters:

• The Indian Air Force has many different types of helicopters, including:
  • MI-26 (heavy lift helicopter)
  • MI-17s and MI-8s (rotorcrafts)
  • ALOUETTE III, renamed Chetak (anti-tank) and Cheetah (general duties)
  • Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) named DHRUV, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Trainer:

• The Indian Air Force has HT-2 primary trainers, including:
  • HPT-32 named Deepak
  • HJT 16 named Kiran

Fighter/Ground Attack:

• The Indian Air Force has many different types of fighter and ground attack aircraft, including:
  • SU-30 (Russian)
  • Mirage-2000 (French, rechristened as Vajra)
  • MiG-29 (rechristened as Baaz), MiG-27, MiG-23 MF, and MiG-21 BIS (all Russian)
  • Jaguar (Anglo-French)
  • IL-76 and AN-32 (Russian)
  • VRO (British)
  • Dornier (German)
  • Boeing 737-200 (American)

Transport:

• The Indian Air Force has many different types of transport aircraft, including:
  • MI-26, MI-25, and MI-17 (Russian)
  • Chetak and Cheetah (French)
  • Lakshya (a Pilotless Target Aircraft developed by DRDO)

Modernization Plan:

• The Indian Air Force plans to buy more Su-30 aircraft, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), and more helicopters and transport aircraft. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started the process of buying more Mi-17 IV helicopters, heavy lift helicopters, Advanced Light Helicopters, and Light Combat Helicopters.

For the transport fleet, the IAF plans to add Boeing Business Jets (BBJ), Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA), Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), Heavy Transport Aircraft (HETAC), C-130J Hercules, and Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA).

Among trainer aircraft, the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer has been added, and the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) will be bought.

The IAF is also in the process of buying radars in various categories to meet Air Defence requirements, accurate and advanced weapons, Network Centric Warfare systems, etc., to meet its assigned tasks.

Navy

• The Chief of Naval Staff is the head of the Navy.
• The Navy’s headquarters is in New Delhi.

The Chief of the Naval Staff is helped by five Principal Staff Officers:

1. Vice-Chief of Naval Staff
2. Chief of Personnel
3. Chief of Material
4. Deputy Chief of Naval Staff

5. Controller of Logistic Support

There are three main commands in the Indian Navy:

• Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai
• Eastern Naval Command, headquartered in Vishakhapatnam (operational command)
• Southern Naval Command, headquartered in Kochi (used for training)

Each command is led by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Fleets

There are two fleets in the Indian Navy:

• Western Fleet
• Eastern Fleet

Aircraft Carriers

• INS Vikrant was India’s first aircraft carrier, but it retired in 1997.
• INS Viraat is currently the largest aircraft carrier in the Indian Navy.
• INS Vikramaditya, a former Soviet aircraft carrier, is being refitted and is expected to enter service in the Indian Navy after 2012.
• INS Vikramaditya is projected to replace INS Viraat as India’s only currently serving aircraft carrier.

A Peek into India’s Naval Fleet

Surface Ships

Aircraft Carriers

• INS Viraat

Missile Boats

• Chamak Class: Chamak and Chapal

Training Ships

• Tir Class: Tir
• Leander Class: Krishna
• Sail Training Ships: Tarangini

Fleet Auxiliaries

• Fleet Tankers: Jyoti, Aditya, Shakti
• Diving Support Ship: Nireekshak
• Torpedo Recovery Vessel: Astravahini, TRV A-72
• Oceangoing Tugs: Matanga, Gaj

Survey and Research Ships

• Sagardhwani Class: Sagardhwani
• Sandhayak Class: Sandhayak, Nirdeshak, Nirupak, Investigator, Jamuna, Sutlej, Darshak, Sarvekshak

Seaward Defence Forces

• Tarasa Class FAC(G): Tarasa, Trinkat
• Seaward Defence Boats: T 54-59, Mithun FACs - T 80-84

Aircrafts and Helicopters

• Sea Harrier: British Aerospace-Sea Harrier FRS MK 51/T
• Sea King: Sea King $42 / 42 \mathrm{~A} / 42 \mathrm{~B} / 42 \mathrm{C}$
• Chetak: Aerospatiale-HAL
• Kamov: Kamov Ka-28/Helix B
• Ka-25 (Hormone)
• Islander
• Advanced Light Helicopter: HAL Advanced Light Helicopter
• Dornier: Dornier 228
• IL 38: Ilyushin IL-38

Aircraft:

10. TU-142: This is a type of aircraft called the Tupolev Tu-142 M-Bear F.
11. Kiran: This is a type of aircraft called the Kiran Mk 1/1A.

Submarines:

• Shishumar Class: This class of submarines includes the Shishumar, Shankush, Shalki, and Shankul.
• Sindhughosh Class: This class of submarines includes the Sindhughosh, Sindhudhvaj, Sindhuraj, Sindhuvir, Sindhuratna, Sindhukesari, Sindhukirti, Sindhuvijay, Sindhurakshak, and Sindhushastra.

Submarine-based Missiles:

India has several foreign-made cruise missile systems, such as the Klub SS-N-27, and some indigenous cruise missile systems, such as the lakshya PTA. India is also developing several Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) systems, such as the Sagarika and Lakshya variants, and an Anti-ship Missile system called the BrahMos.

INS Kursura:

The INS Kursura was a submarine that was commissioned in Riga, USSR, on December 18, 1969. It played a vital role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and participated in various naval operations during its 31 years of service. The submarine INS Kursura was taken out of service on February 27, 2001. In 2002, it was turned into a submarine museum on RK Beach in Visakhapatanam.

Where are the Defense Establishments?

Army

• Indian Military Academy: Dehradun
• Army Officers’ Training School: Chennai
• The Armoured Corps Centre and School: Ahmednagar
• The College of Military Engineering: Pune
• The School of Signals: Mhow
• The School of Artillery: Deolali
• The Infantry School: Mhow
• The Army Ordnance Corps School: Jabalpur
• The Army Education Corps and Training Centre: Pachmarhi
• The Service Corps School: Bareilly
• The Remount, Veterinary and Farms Corps Centre and School: Meerut
• The School of Physical Training: Pune
• The School of Mechanical Transport: Bangalore
• The Corps Military Police Centre and School: Faizabad
• The Military School of Music: Pachmarhi
• The Electrical and Mechanical Engineering School: Trimulghery and Secundrabad

Navy

• Indian Naval Academy: Kochi
• INS Venduruthy

Indian Navy

• Kochi: Naval Air Station
• Kochi: INS Shivaji
• Lonavla: INS Valsura
• Jamnagar: INS Circars
• Vishakhapatnam: INS Hamla
• Mumbai: INS Agrani
• Coimbatore: INS Gomantak
• Mormugao: INS Jarawa
• Kochi: Naval Gunnery School
• Kochi: Torpedo/Anti-Submarine School
• Mormugao: Navigation Direction School

Indian Air Force

• Allahabad: Pilot Training Establishment
• Coimbatore: Air Force Administrative College
• Bangalore: School of Aviation Medicine
• Hyderabad: Jet Training and Transport Training Wings
• Jalahali: Air Force Station
• Jalahali: Air Force Technical Training College
• Tambaram: Air Force School
• Agra: Air Force School
• Agra: Paratrooper’s Training School

Inter-Services Institutes

• Khadakvasla: National Defence Academy
• New Delhi: National Defence College
• Wellington: Defence Services Staff College
• Secunderabad: School of Land/Air Warfare
• New Delhi: School of Foreign Language
• Dehradun: Rashtriya Indian Military College
• Pune: Armed Forces Medical College
• Darjeeling: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Darjeeling

Defense Production Undertakings

• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has factories in Bangalore, Koraput, Nashik, Karwa, Kanpur, Lucknow, Barrackpore, and Hyderabad.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) has factories in Bangalore, Ghaziabad, Pune, Machilipatnam, Taloja, Panchkula, Kotdwara, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
• Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) has factories in Bangalore, Mysore, and Kolar Gold Fields at Hyderabad.

Ship Building Factories

1. Mazagaon Dock Ltd. (MDL) is in Mumbai.
2. Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineering Ltd. (GRSE) is in Kolkata.
3. Goa Shipyards Ltd. (GSL) is in Goa.

India’s Missile Programme

• India’s Integrated Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) started in 1982-83 by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) under the leadership of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
• Agni, Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag, and Astra are part of the IGMDP.
• DRDO is working on developing specialized missiles like Brahmos and Sagarika.

Agni

The Agni missile family is India’s main missile-based nuclear deterrent.

• The Agni family will continue to grow, offering a variety of payload and range options.
• The Agni-I is a short-range ballistic missile with a single-stage engine.
• The Agni-II is an intermediate-range ballistic missile with two solid fuel stages and a Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) integrated into the missile’s reentry Vehicle (RV).

Variants

• Agni-TD: Two-stage, solid booster, and liquid-fueled second stage.
• IRBM Technology Demonstrator.
• Agni-I (A-1): Single-stage, solid fuel, road and rail mobile, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). (Payload 1000 kg; Range 700-800 km).
• Agni-II (A-2): Two-stage, solid fuel, road and rail mobile, Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). (Payload 750-1050 kg; Range 2000-3000 km).
• Agni-IIAT (A-2AT): Improved A-2 variant using more advanced and lighter material.
• Two-stage, solid fuel, road.

Agni-III:

• A two-stage, solid fuel missile that can be launched from submarines, roads, and rails.
• It can carry a payload of 2000-2500 kg and has a range of 3500-5000 km.
• It was inducted into the Indian military in June 2011 and serves as a nuclear deterrent against China.

Agni-IV:

• A three-stage, solid fuel missile that can be launched from roads and rails.
• It has a longer range than Agni-III and is capable of carrying a heavier payload.
• However, its launch failed in July 2006.

Agni-V:

• Scientists are currently working on this upgraded version of Agni-III.
• It is expected to have a range of 5000-6000 km.

Brahmos:

• A supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, and land-based mobile launchers.
• It is primarily designed as an anti-ship missile and is launched from a Transport-Launch Canister (TLC).

Variants:

• BrahmosD01: The first flight test of the Brahmos missile was conducted on 12 June 2001 in Orissa, India.
• Brahmos D02: The second flight test of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile was conducted successfully on 29 March 2004.

Prithvi

• India started a program called Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) in 1983 to make different types of missiles that can be launched from the ground or air.
• Prithvi was the first missile made under this program.
• Prithvi-II was the first missile made in India that could hit targets up to 350 kilometers away. It was successfully tested in June 2011.

Variants

• SS-150/Prithvi-I is a missile that helps the army in battles. It can carry a load of 1000 kilograms and can hit targets up to 150 kilometers away.
• It is a missile that has one stage, two engines, uses liquid fuel, and can be moved on roads. It is a short-range missile that can be launched from the ground to hit targets on the ground. (It was added to the Indian Army in 1994.)
• SS-250/Prithvi-II is a missile that is used by the Indian Air Force. It can carry a load of 350-750 kilograms and can hit targets up to 250 kilometers away.

Prithvi-II (SS-250):

• Single-stage, dual-engine, liquid-fueled missile.
• Can be moved on roads.
• Short-range surface-to-surface missile.
• Inducted into the Indian Army in 1994.
• Payload capacity increased to 1000 kg using boosted liquid propellant.

Prithvi-III (SS-350):

• Solid-fueled version of Prithvi-II.
• Range increased to 350 km.
• Payload capacity of 1000 kg.
• Two-stage, solid-fuel, road-mobile, short-range, surface-to-surface missile.

Sagarika:

• Submarine-launched variant of Prithvi-III.
• Intended for nuclear-powered submarines.
• Payload capacity of 500-1000 kg.
• Range of 350-600 km.

Project K-15:

• Under development.
• Will enable the missile to be launched from a submerged submarine.

Dhanush:

• System consisting of a stabilization platform and the missile.
• Can fire either the SS-250 or Prithvi-III missiles.

Akash

• The Akash is a medium-range missile used to defend against aircraft and missiles.
• It was first tested in 1990 and has been in development since then.
• It works with the Rajendra radar to find and track targets.
• The Akash will replace the SA-6 missile in India and may be used with the S-300V missile to defend against short-range ballistic missiles from Pakistan and China.

Trishul

• The Trishul is a short-range missile designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles that are flying low.
• It has been tested against targets flying close to the ground and against moving targets.
• It can travel up to 9 kilometers and carries a 5.5-kilogram warhead that explodes into fragments.
• It takes about 6 seconds from the time it detects a target to the time it launches.
• India decided to stop working on the Trishul missile project in 2008 because it was too expensive to develop.
• The Trishul missile is no longer used by the military, but it is still used to show off new technology.

Nag

• The Nag is a modern anti-tank missile that can be used in any weather and can attack from above.
• It is one of five missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
• Work on the missile began in 1988, and the first tests were conducted in November 1990.

Astra

• The Astra is a cutting-edge air-to-air missile that can travel more than 80 kilometers when fired head-on and 20 kilometers when fired from behind. - In May 2003, test flights were carried out.
• Astra can hit moving targets with great accuracy.

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