Indian Army
सेवा परमो धर्मः
“Service Before Self”
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. It is organised into seven operational commands and fields everything from main battle tanks and long-range artillery to high-altitude mountain warfare formations along the Line of Actual Control.
- Founded
- 1895
- Active personnel
- ~1.24 million active
- Platforms catalogued
- 85
- Indian-built share
- 73%
Browse by category
Helicopters
3Utility, transport and observation rotorcraft operated across all three services.
Attack Helicopters
3Dedicated armed rotorcraft for close air support and anti-armour work.
Main Battle Tanks
3The armoured core of the Indian Army's strike and holding formations.
Light Tanks
1Air-portable armour intended for high-altitude and rapid-deployment roles.
Infantry Fighting Vehicles
1Tracked and wheeled vehicles that carry and support mechanised infantry.
Armoured Vehicles
8Protected carriers, mine-resistant vehicles and specialist armoured platforms.
Towed Artillery
7Towed gun-howitzers, including the indigenous Dhanush and ATAGS programmes.
Self-Propelled Artillery
1Tracked and wheeled artillery able to shoot and scoot with armoured columns.
Rocket Artillery
4Multi-barrel rocket launchers delivering area saturation fire.
Infantry Weapons
12Rifles, carbines, machine guns and squad support weapons.
Support Vehicles
6Logistics, engineering, recovery and specialist support vehicles.
Air Defence
12Surface-to-air missile systems and gun-based air defence across all three services.
Ballistic Missiles
10Short- to intercontinental-range ballistic missiles, including the Agni series.
Cruise Missiles
2Land-attack and anti-ship cruise missiles, most prominently BrahMos.
Anti-Tank Missiles
8Man-portable and vehicle-mounted guided anti-armour weapons.
Radar & Sensors
4Ground-based surveillance, tracking and fire-control radar networks.
Key platforms
The most significant systems in service. The remaining 73 entries are listed under their categories above.
Indian Army
Arjun
India's own main battle tank, three decades in the making.
- Role
- Main battle tank
- In service
- 2004–present
Indian Army
T-90S Bhishma
Bhishma
The armoured fist of India's strike corps.
- Role
- Main battle tank
- In service
- 1992–present
Indian Army
BMP-2 Sarath
Sarath
The tracked carrier that moves India's mechanised infantry.
- Role
- Infantry fighting vehicle
- In service
- 1980–present
Indian Army
Dhanush
The first Indian-built 155mm gun to reach series production.
- Role
- Howitzer
- In service
- 2019 - present
Indian Army
K9 Vajra-T
Vajra
Tracked 155mm firepower that keeps pace with armour.
- Role
- Self-propelled howitzer
- In service
- 1999 — present
Indian Army
Pinaka
Area saturation fire, developed and built entirely in India.
- Role
- Multiple launch rocket system
- In service
- 1994-present
Indian Army
Akash
India's indigenous medium-range shield against air attack.
- Role
- Mobile Surface-to-air missile system
- In service
- 2009-present
Indian Army
Nag
Fire-and-forget anti-armour, developed entirely in India.
- Role
- Anti-tank guided missile
- In service
- In service
Indian Air Force
BrahMos
The supersonic cruise missile all three services field.
- Role
- Cruise missile
- In service
- 2007 — present
Indian Army
Agni-V
The long reach of India's nuclear deterrent.
- Role
- Intermediate-range ballistic missile
- In service
- Active
Indian Air Force
HAL Dhruv
ALH Dhruv
The indigenous workhorse flown by every Indian service.
- Role
- Utility helicopter
- In service
- 2002 — present
Indian Air Force
HAL Prachand
LCH
The only attack helicopter that can arm and fight at 5,000 m.
- Role
- Attack helicopter
- In service
- 2022 — present