Country profile · SD Strength Index
India Military Strength 2026
Score by area
| Air power | 29 | |
| Missiles & strike | 20 | |
| Air & missile defence | 27 | |
| Sea power | 41 | |
| Land forces | 54 | |
| Manpower | 93 | |
| Budget & industry | 35 |
Armed forces in 2026
Key figures
As of 2026-10| Defence budget | 88–92 $bn | A |
| Share of GDP | 2 % | B |
| Active personnel | 1.5m | B |
| Reserves | 1.1m–1.2m | C |
| Combat aircraft | 560–650 | C |
| Fifth-generation fighters | 0 | A |
| Attack helicopters | 45–65 | C |
| All military aircraft | 2,100–2,300 | C |
| Main battle tanks | 3,700–4,600 | C |
| Aircraft carriers | 2 | A |
| Destroyers | 13–14 | C |
| Frigates | 14–17 | C |
| Submarines | 18–19 | B |
| Longest missile range | 5,000–7,000 km | C |
| Long-range air-defence batteries | 3–4 | B |
| Nuclear warheads | 190 | B |
A confirmed B strong estimate C estimated range
Main equipment
| Equipment | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Su-30MKI | 255–265 | B |
| Rafale (IAF) | 33–36 | C |
| Jaguar | 100–124 | C |
| MiG-29UPG | 55–65 | C |
| Mirage 2000H/I | 40–44 | C |
| Tejas Mk1 | 31–40 | B |
| Tejas Mk1A | 0–2 | C |
| LCH Prachand | 15 | B |
| S-400 Triumf | 3–4 | B |
| INS Vikrant | 1 | A |
| INS Vikramaditya | 1 | A |
| Arihant-class SSBN | 3 | A |
| Kalvari (Scorpene) | 6 | A |
| Agni-5 | — | C |
| Agni-Prime | — | C |
| BrahMos | — | C |
| MQ-9B Sky/SeaGuardian | 0 | B |
How strong is India's military in 2026?
India fields about 1.46 million active personnel and roughly 1.15 million reservists. Silent Dossier estimates its tank fleet at around 4,200. The FY2026-27 defence allocation is INR 7.85 lakh crore, close to US$90 billion and about 2 per cent of GDP, up 15 per cent on the year. India is a declared nuclear power with an estimated 190 warheads, deliverable from land, air and sea.
It dwarfs Pakistan on spending and on most hardware, and it faces two hostile fronts at once: Pakistan to the west and China along the disputed Himalayan border. On Silent Dossier's index it sits just behind South Korea and ahead of Japan.
How many fighter jets does India have?
Silent Dossier counts about 594 fighters. The Su-30MKI, built under licence by HAL, is the backbone with around 265 jets. Then come roughly 124 Jaguars, 65 MiG-29UPGs, 44 Mirage 2000s, about 35 Rafales and 31 Tejas Mk1s. The navy adds about 40 MiG-29Ks. The last MiG-21s retired on 26 September 2025.
Numbers are the problem. The air force has 29 fighter squadrons against 42 sanctioned. Despite 180 Tejas Mk1As on order, none had been confirmed as handed over by September 2026, because GE F404 engines arrived late. India ordered 26 Rafale M for the carrier Vikrant in April 2025 and in May 2026 formally requested 114 more Rafales. It has no fifth generation fighter.
What did Operation Sindoor reveal?
In May 2025, after the Pahalgam attack, India launched missile and air strikes on Pakistan and set off a four day exchange. Indian strikes reportedly damaged several Pakistani air bases, and S-400 and Akash air defences fired in combat. India admitted unspecified aircraft losses. Silent Dossier assesses that one to three Indian jets went down, at least one of them a Rafale and possibly a Mirage 2000. Indian claims of a dozen or more Pakistani aircraft destroyed remain unverified.
India showed it could reach deep with precision weapons. It also lost frontline jets on the first day.
How powerful is the Indian navy?
India operates two carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. Vikramaditya went into refit in late 2024 and has no confirmed return date. INS Aridhaman, the third Arihant class ballistic missile submarine, was commissioned on 3 April 2026, and a fourth is expected in 2027. The submarine force totals 19 boats, including six French designed Kalvari class. Silent Dossier estimates 13 destroyers and 16 frigates.
Japan and South Korea still score higher at sea on our index. India's older Sindhughosh and Shishumar submarines are wearing out, four Sindhughosh boats have already gone, and the first replacement under Project 75I is not expected before about 2033.
What missiles and air defences does India have?
The Agni-5 reaches an estimated 5,000 to 5,800 km and flew with multiple warheads in March 2024. BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile built with Russia, is in service in a 450 km version; an 800 km variant should follow in late 2027 or 2028. India received its fourth S-400 regiment in mid 2026, the fifth is scheduled for November 2026, and five more were approved in March 2026. The 31 MQ-9B armed drones on order are not due until about 2029.
Money is not what holds India back. Factories are. HAL cannot build fighters fast enough, and the engines it relies on come from abroad.
Compare India
Combat record and readiness
Operation Sindoor in May 2025 was a missile, drone and air exchange with Pakistan lasting four days, after the Pahalgam attack. India admits unspecified aircraft losses, which we assess at one to three jets including at least one Rafale. S-400 and Akash saw combat, and standoffs on the Line of Control and the China border continue.
HAL builds Tejas fighters and Su-30MKIs under licence, DRDO the Agni and Akash missiles, and BrahMos is a joint venture with Russia. Indian yards built the carrier Vikrant and three Arihant-class ballistic missile submarines, the latest commissioned in April 2026.
The air force is down to 29 fighter squadrons against 42 authorised after the MiG-21 retired in September 2025. Tejas Mk1A deliveries have slipped over two years for lack of GE F404 engines. Ageing conventional submarines and late S-400 deliveries add strain.
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Questions readers ask
Is India's military stronger than Pakistan's?
Yes. India outspends Pakistan about eight to one and leads on troops, fighters and ships. Missiles are the exception: Pakistan scores higher there on our index. Both sides have nuclear weapons.
How many soldiers does India have?
About 1.46 million active personnel and roughly 1.15 million reservists, one of the largest forces in the world.
How many aircraft carriers does India have?
Two: the Indian built INS Vikrant and the Russian built INS Vikramaditya, which has been in refit since late 2024.
Is India stronger than China militarily?
No. China's official defence budget is about three times India's, and its fleet and air force are far larger. India's answer is its nuclear arsenal and a standing army on the disputed border.
What is India's defence budget in 2026?
The FY2026-27 allocation is INR 7.85 lakh crore, about US$90 billion and roughly 2 per cent of GDP.