Comparison of military capabilities and equipment of India and Pakistan

In light of these developments, below is a comparison of the armed forces of India and Pakistan, two regional nuclear powers, covering their populations, active military personnel, reserve forces, and air capabilities.

According to the specialized military website Global Firepower, the Indian military ranks as the fourth most powerful in the world, while Pakistan’s military stands at twelfth. Both nations possess significant air forces and nuclear arsenals.

Indian Military

India’s population exceeds 1.4 billion, with over 662 million considered available manpower. The Indian military has 1.4 million active personnel and 1.1 million reserve forces.

In terms of air forces, India possesses 2,229 military aircraft, including 513 fighter jets, 130 attack aircraft, 270 military transport aircraft, 351 training aircraft, and 899 military helicopters, of which 80 are attack helicopters.

Regarding armored capabilities, the Indian army has over 4,200 tanks, 148,594 armored vehicles, 100 self-propelled artillery pieces, 3,975 field artillery pieces, and 264 rocket launchers.

The Indian Navy operates 293 warships, including two aircraft carriers, 14 frigates, 13 destroyers, and 18 submarines.

In terms of nuclear capabilities, India has 172 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, with an estimated defense budget of $75 billion.

Pakistani Military

Pakistan’s population exceeds 252 million, with over 108 million considered available manpower. The Pakistani military has 654,000 active personnel and 550,000 reserve forces.

Pakistan’s air force operates 1,399 military aircraft, including 328 fighter jets, 90 attack aircraft, and 373 military helicopters, of which 57 are attack helicopters.

The Pakistani army also possesses 2,627 tanks, approximately 17,500 armored vehicles, 662 self-propelled artillery pieces, 2,629 field artillery pieces, and 600 rocket launchers.

Pakistan’s naval fleet consists of 121 warships, including 8 submarines, 9 frigates, and 3 minesweepers.

In terms of nuclear capabilities, Pakistan has 170 nuclear warheads, with an annual defense budget of $7.64 billion.