While dealing with India’s militarization, it must be kept in mind that the US is the worlds most heavily armed power, on all counts, with its armies deployed all over the world. Not only is it the most heavily armed power in the conventional and nuclear sense, it spends 9-12 times as much on military expenditure each year (US $ 515 trillion) as compared with the next set of countries ( France, China, UK, Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy) and 16 times as much as India, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the second set of countries on the list, on military outlay.
While dealing with India’s militarization, it must be kept in mind that the US is the worlds most heavily armed power, on all counts, with its armies deployed all over the world. Not only is it the most heavily armed power in the conventional and nuclear sense, it spends 9-12 times as much on military expenditure each year (US $ 515 trillion) as compared with the next set of countries ( France, China, UK, Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy) and 16 times as much as India, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the second set of countries on the list, on military outlay.
China and India, with huge populations, large territories and expanding ambitions, as well as relatively faster growing economies, are viewed as powers which are developing a military arsenal concomitant with their vision of future role in the world.
Indian Armed forces is currently the third largest in the world in terms of men and women in uniform, according to 2008 figures. The list of the top 8 armed forces in terms of manpower is in the table on facing page.
| China | 2,255,000 |
| United States of America | 1,385,122 |
| India | 1,325,000 |
| Russia | 1,245,000 |
| North Korea | 1,170,000 |
| South Korea | 687,000 |
| Pakistan | 650,000 |
| Iran | 545,000 |
Some new developments
Indian Air Force has put out a tender worth $10-billion tender for 126 combat jets, which is in its final stage of decision making. Russia, US, France, Sweden, and some others have made bids. India is demanding full technology transfer. Russia, on top of a full technology transfer, is offering India help in building its own advanced radar. This would put India in the elite league of manufacturers of some of the most sophisticated defence equipment. India has worked in the past to ensure that arms purchases are linked with possibilities of indigenous reproduction as well as maintenance, to ensure it is not at the mercy of supplier countries.
The Indian Navy has ordered 6 Neval Tejas Light Combat Aircrafts worth Rs 900 crores. The navy’s plan is to operate both light and medium fighters off its aircraft carriers. The Naval LCA will supplement the heavier Russian MiG-29K, which has already been ordered from Russia. The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) is being built at Cochin Shipyard, Kochi, has been designed with facilities for both types of aircraft. The Air Craft Carrier (IAC) is expected to join the fleet by 2014.
The Ladakh-Nyoma airstrip bordering China will be expanded
The Indian Air Force is building a full fledged airbase at Nyoma in Ladakh bordering China. This will be completed by 2012. This base is 23 KM from the China border. MIG 29 fleets to be upgraded
Russia will complete the upgradation of Indian Air Force's 60 MiG-29 fighters by 2013 which will extend their service life by another 15 years.
Indian Army inducts DRDOs NBC Weapons Detection Vehicle
The Army has inducted a DRDO-built, low-cost vehicle to detect attacks on the country using nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapons. The indigenous vehicle will now be used in reconnaissance missions to detect nuclear radiations, and chemical or biological agents in the environment inside the country’s territory.
Indian Army to induct Nag Missiles Soon
Nag is an all weather, top attack missile with a range of 4 to 7 km. Delivery systems
Indian armed forces have been building their own delivery systems to launch conventional as well as nuclear weapons. This shows the long term planning of the Indian bourgeoisie to not rely on weapons imports alone, in order to carry out its imperialist strategy.
Below is the list of missiles currently in India's inventory or under development that can carry Nuclear Warheads.
Nuclear submarines
* India plans to have as many as 20 nuclear submarines capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads. Currently, India has built one and is building two more nuclear submarines under the Advanced Technology Vessel plan.
* In addition, other ships in India’s Navy are also capable of launching nuclear and conventional missiles using the delivery systems that have been developed.
Nuclear-capable aircraft
India currently has fighter jets capable of launching nuclear and conventional weapons. Apart from aircraft bought from other countries, the HAL manufactured Tejas is armed with nuclear weapons.
Ballistic missile defense
India has an active ballistic missile defence program called the Prithvi Air Defense (PAD). Two new anti ballistic missiles that can intercept IRBM/ICBMs are being developed. These high speed missiles (AD-1 and AD-2) are being developed to intercept ballistic missiles with the range of 5,000 km.
Indian Ocean regions – some recent developments
In 2007, India’s new listening post became operational in Madagascar. The monitoring system provides India with information about military movements in South West Indian Ocean. The monitoring system is linked to Kochi and Mumbai, naval headquarters of Southern and Western Commands. Madagascar, a large island off Africa's east coast, is among a growing number of countries of Africa bordering the Indian Ocean with which India is building naval and other ties. The Indian Navy took charge of Mozambique's sea security during the African Union summit there in 2003 and during the World Economic Forum summit the following year.
India has already having naval relations with Mauritius, an island between India and Madagascar, since 1974. There are reports that Mauritius has offered its Agalega Islands to India on a long tem lease. These islands are 1,100 km from Madagascar and 3000 KM from India.
With Mozambique, on the South Western Coast of Africa, India has signed an agreement for maritime patrolling, as well as for supplying equipment and training personnel for assembly and repair of military vehicles, aircraft and ships.
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India's Nuclear Capable Missiles |
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|
Name |
Class |
Range |
Payload |
Status |
|
Agni-I |
SRBM |
850 km |
1,000 kg |
Operational |
|
Agni-II |
MRBM |
2,500 km |
500 kg-1,000 kg |
Operational |
|
Agni-III |
ICBM |
3,500 km – 5,500 km |
2,490 kg |
Operational |
|
Agni-V |
ICBM |
5,000 km – 6,000 km |
3,000 kg+ |
Under Development |
|
Agni 3SL |
ICBM |
5,200 km – 11,600 km |
700 kg – 1,400 kg |
Under Development |
|
Akash |
SAM |
30 km |
60 kg |
Operational |
|
Astra |
air-to-air missile |
80 km head on, 15 km tail chase |
N/A |
Operational |
|
BrahMos-I |
Supersonic Cruise Missile |
290 km |
300 kg |
Operational |
|
BrahMos-II |
Hypersonic Cruise Missile |
N/A |
N/A |
Under Development |
|
Dhanush |
SRBM |
350 km |
500 kg |
Operational |
|
Nirbhay |
Subsonic Cruise Missile |
1,000 km |
N/A |
Under Development |
|
P-70 Ametist |
Anti-shipping Missile |
65 km |
530 kg |
Operational |
|
P-270 Moskit |
Supersonic Cruise Missile |
120 km |
320 kg |
Operational |
|
Popeye |
ASM |
78 km |
340 kg |
Operational |
|
Prithvi-I |
SRBM |
150 km |
1000 kg |
Operational |
|
Prithvi-II |
SRBM |
250 km |
500 kg |
Operational |
|
Prithvi-III |
SRBM |
350 km |
500 kg |
Operational |
|
Sagarika |
SLBM |
700 km – 2,200 |
km 150 kg – 1000 kg |
Operational |
|
Shaurya |
TBM |
700 km – 2,200 km |
150 kg – 1,000 kg |
Operational |
|
Surya-I |
ICBM |
9,000 km – 12,000 km |
3,000 kg+ |
N/A |
|
Surya-II |
ICBM |
20,000 km |
N/A |
N/A |