As war clouds loom over the South Asian subcontinent once again after the ghastly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, it appears that India and Pakistan could be headed towards an armed clash.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar warned that it had “credible intelligence” that New Delhi would launch a military strike in a few days. He said India could launch an attack and that “any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively.”
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has given the Indian military “operational freedom” to decide on the mode, target, and timing of the response to the terror attack.
Fearing an attack from the Indian military, the Pakistani military remains on high alert. Reports suggest that it has activated its air defenses, moved military equipment closer to the border with India, and launched military drills to project power.
Intermittent cross-border firing along the Line of Control (LOC) has been reported since the attack, and could easily intensify. Whether it will escalate into a limited or full-blown conflict remains to be seen.
The sustained tensions between India and Pakistan are unlikely to snowball into a full-scale war. However, if a limited conflict breaks out, there would be a global spotlight on India’s indigenous weapons, especially the ones the country has exported to its allies.
Pinaka MLRS
India’s indigenously developed Pinaka Multiple Barrel Rocket Launch System has been projected as India’s equivalent to the HIMARS.
It is well-suited for modern combat, as the launcher’s Shoot-and-Scoot capability enables it to evade counter-battery fire, a crucial requirement for survival in today’s drone-saturated battlefields.
The Pinaka MBRL system consists of six launcher vehicles, each equipped with 12 rockets, six loader-replenishment vehicles, two command post vehicles integrated with a fire control computer, and a DIGICORA MET radar.
The Pinaka Mk-1 is a free-flight artillery rocket area bombardment system with a range of 38 kilometers, quick reaction time, and a high rate of fire. A single Pinaka system fires 12 rockets from a multi-barrel launcher in 44 seconds, while a battery can fire 72 rockets.
India is now developing an enhanced version of the rocket system with an increased range between 60 and 90 kilometers. The 214mm bore Pinaka Mk-1 rocket has a payload of 100 kilograms and can be fitted with various warheads, such as anti-tank mines and blast-cum-pre-fragmented high explosives.
The system is already in service with the Indian Army and has also been exported to Armenia.
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Akash Surface-To-Air Missile
The Akash short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, developed by India’s DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), is a robust air defense platform designed to counter various aerial threats.
The BDL website states that the Akash Weapon System (AWS) can simultaneously engage multiple targets in group or autonomous modes. The system is equipped with built-in Electronic Countermeasures (ECCM). The entire weapon system is mounted on mobile platforms, which enhances its mobility and survivability. It could be easily moved in the mountainous region along the Line of Control (LoC). The Akash can effectively engage helicopters, fighter jets, and UAVs flying in the range of 4-25 kilometers.
The Indian Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) claims that it is the first system in the world capable of engaging four aerial targets simultaneously at a distance of 25 kilometers by command guidance using a single firing unit.
The weapon system can operate in fully automatic mode with a quick response time from target detection to kill. Its open-system architecture ensures adaptability to existing and futuristic air defense platforms. Additionally, it is highly immune to active and passive jamming. It can be transported swiftly via rail or road and deployed quickly.
In the event of a war, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets will have to steer clear of the formidable Akash SAM.
LCA Tejas
India’s Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, could see action if a clash erupts between India and Pakistan.
Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the LCA Tejas is a single-engine, 4+ generation fighter designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground roles.
First inducted in 2015, it has overcome early development challenges to become a reliable platform. As of May 2025, the IAF operates a limited number of Tejas Mk-1 aircraft, with 83 Mk-1A variants on order.
With a speed of Mach 1.6, a combat range of about 500 kilometres, and a payload capacity of 3,500 kilograms, the Tejas-Mk1 could be used for air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike roles at the switch of a button.
Tejas has been deployed to forward bases, including in Jammu and Kashmir. The IAF has about three squadrons of Tejas fighters, which could be quickly dispatched in case of a conflict with Pakistan.
The IAF may deploy Tejas for air patrols or secondary strikes, reserving Rafale or Su-30 MKI for primary missions due to their longer range and payload. It will certainly be compared to the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder.
Air Launched Missiles
The IAF fighter jets can carry a variety of indigenously developed missiles that will likely be used against the enemy. For instance, the Astra Mk-1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) boasts a range of approximately 110 kilometres.
This missile can carry a 15-kilogram explosive and is compatible with Su-30MKI, Tejas, and MiG-29. At long ranges, it can engage a Pakistani JF-17 or F-16.
The other lethal missile that India can use in combat against Pakistan is the Rudram-II Anti-Radiation Missile, which can help the Su-30MKI in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) by targeting enemy radar and communication systems at a range of around 150 kilometres.
It could help suppress Pakistani air defenses by targeting radar systems (e.g., those linked to HQ-9 SAMs or AEW&C ground stations), which could then be followed by a strike by another aircraft.
The Su-30MKI can also fire the BrahMos, the Indo-Russian missile developed in India.
BrahMos Missile
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeniya. It is capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 3 and striking targets over 500 kilometers away. Thus, providing the lethal combination of range and speed.
It is believed to be the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile. It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. One of its special features is its ability to fly extremely low to the ground, avoiding missile defense systems.
In fact, during the terminal phase, the missile can fly as low as 10 meters above the ground. The air-launched variant of the BrahMos missile travels at Mach 3.5+ and is designed for precision strikes against ground and naval targets.
It has been a key component of the Indian armed forces for several years. With its cutting-edge capabilities, the missile has made a significant impact in the export market, particularly in Southeast Asia.
The Philippines became the first buyer of the missile when it signed a US$375 million deal with India for three batteries of the shore-based, anti-ship variant of the BrahMos missile for its naval forces.
The missile has since been offered to other countries in the region, and reports suggest that Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam have shown interest.
The surge in demand for the BrahMos missile underscores Southeast Asian nations’ strategic recalibration as they bolster their arsenals in response to China’s military expansion in the South China Sea and the Western Pacific.
If BrahMos is put into action, Pakistan has nothing in its arsenal to intercept the deadly missiles.
Combat Helicopters
India has two indigenously developed helicopters that will likely see action against Pakistan: the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) in Dhruv and Rudra variants, and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand.
The ALH Dhruv, now cleared for operations, is primarily a utility helicopter. It can be used for transporting troops, reconnaissance missions, and indirectly aiding SEAD and air superiority missions. The ALH Dhruv has been designed to operate in high-altitude environments, which will benefit any combat against Pakistan.
The LCH Prachand is a dedicated attack helicopter developed indigenously to meet the Indian Armed Forces’ need for a high-altitude, multi-role combat platform.
The Prachand features an arrow fuselage with stealth characteristics that enable high-altitude performance. Its service ceiling is 21,000 ft (6,500 m), and operations are at 5,000 m (16,400 ft) with a significant payload.
The Prachand is equipped with a versatile weapons suite for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-tank roles.
This Indian chopper could support SEAD missions by targeting radar and launchers, clearing paths for Su-30MKI/Tejas strikes with Astra Mk-1 (air-to-air) and BrahMos (air-to-ground) missiles.
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