Home›Small Arms And Sidearms›Operator›Indian ArmyArmed Forces and UnitsIndian ArmyModernReference and ClassificationDevelopingThe Indian Army traces its institutional roots to the presidency armies of the British East India Company, later consolidated and reorganized as the British Indian Army, before being divided at independence and partition in 1947 into the separate armies of India and Pakistan, with the modern Indian Army inheriting much of the organizational structure, regimental traditions and combat experience of its colonial-era predecessor, including extensive service in both World Wars. Since independence the Indian Army has fought multiple wars with Pakistan, including over the disputed Kashmir region in 1947-48, 1965 and the 1999 Kargil War, as well as the 1962 Sino-Indian War against China and the decisive 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh, in which Indian forces achieved one of the most complete military victories of the postwar era. Organized around numerous infantry, armored and specialized regiments maintaining distinct historical identities and recruitment traditions dating to the colonial period, the Indian Army is among the largest standing armies in the world by active personnel and maintains a significant peacekeeping role, contributing substantial troop contingents to United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide over many decades. The Army continues to maintain a heavy operational presence along India's disputed borders with both Pakistan and China, including extreme high-altitude deployments in the Siachen Glacier region, among the highest and most physically demanding military deployments anywhere in the world.FactsIndian ArmyConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsPartially AttestedFounded YearPartially Attested1895 1Established on 1 April 1895 as the British Indian Army; the Indian Army in its current form dates from 26 January 1950.Force TypeWell-attestedArmy 1CountryWell-attestedIndia 1Force TypeForce Type (category)Well-attestedArmy 1Indian ArmyFilter Results8 entriesWeapon ClassAllMachine Gun (2)Rifle (6)Submachine Gun (2)Weapon FamilyAllAssault Rifles (2)Assault Rifles of Asia-Pacific (1)Assault Rifles of Russia and the Soviet Union (1)Bolt-Action, Lever-Action and Historic Rifles (2)Rifles and Carbines (6)Sniper, Designated Marksman and Anti-Materiel Rifles (2)Submachine Guns (2)Introduced EraAll1866 (1)1867 (1)1951 (1)1954 (1)1963 (1)1990 (1)1998 (2)2000 (1)2022 (1)2024 (1)ManufacturerAllChina North Industries Group Corporation Limited (1)Denel Land Systems (1)FN Herstal (1)IMI Systems (1)Indo-Russia Rifles (1)Kalashnikov Concern (1)KBP Instrument Design Bureau (1)Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) (1)Royal Small Arms Factory (1)CaliberAll.22 Long Rifle (1).41 Action Express (1).45 ACP (1).577 Snider (1)12.7x108mm (1)14.5x114mm (1)20 × 82mm (1)5.56x45mm NATO (1)5.56×30mm MINSAS (1)7.62x39mm (1)7.62x51mm NATO (1)9x19mm (2)9×19 mm Parabellum (2)9×21mm (1)Service StatusAllIn Service (6)Retired (2)Country of OriginAllIndia (3)Israel (1)Russia (2)South Africa (1)United Kingdom (1)Wars Used InAllAnglo-Ashanti Wars (1)Anglo-Zulu War (1)Angolan Civil War (1)Balkan Wars (1)Burundian Civil War (1)Falklands War (1)First Boer War (1)First Congo War (1)First Italo-Ethiopian War (1)Franco-Prussian War (1)Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 (1)Kargil War (1)Paraguayan War (1)Portuguese Conquest of the Gaza Empire (1)Second Anglo-Afghan War (1)Second Boer War (1)Six-Day War (1)South African Border War (1)Sri Lankan Civil War (1)Syrian Civil War (2)Vietnam War (1)World War I (1)Yom Kippur War (1)Yugoslav Wars (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 8AK-203Indian ArmyASMIIndian ArmyDenel NTW-20Indian ArmyINSAS rifleIndian ArmyIshapore 2A1 rifleIndian ArmyOSV-96Indian ArmySnider-EnfieldIndian ArmyUziIndian ArmyConnectionsAssociated WithBrahMos Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BrahMostier 4Fought InIndo-Pakistani War of 1947, Wars Well-attested The Indian Army fought the first Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48 over KashmirIndo-Pakistani War of 1965, Wars Well-attested The Indian Army fought the second Indo-Pakistani War in 1965, including major tank battles at Asal UttarIndo-Pakistani War of 1971, Wars Well-attested The Indian Army's 1971 campaign in East Pakistan led to the creation of BangladeshIndo-Pakistani Wars, Wars Well-attested The Indian Army has fought Pakistan across four declared wars since 1947Kargil War, Wars Well-attested The Indian Army recaptured high-altitude positions from Pakistani infiltrators in the 1999 Kargil WarSino-Indian War, Wars Well-attested The Indian Army fought the 1962 Sino-Indian War over the disputed Himalayan borderOperatesAH-64 Apache, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: AH-64 Apachetier 4AK-203, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: AK-203Akash Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Akash (missile), WikipediaArjun Tank, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Arjun (tank), WikipediaASMI, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: ASMIBarak 8, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Barak 8, WikipediaBrahMos Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BrahMostier 4Daimler armoured car, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Daimler armoured carDenel NTW-20, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Denel NTW-20Humber armoured car, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Humber armoured carINSAS rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: INSAS rifleIshapore 2A1 rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Ishapore 2A1 rifle (Wikipedia)K9 Thunder, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: K9 ThunderMILAN, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: MILAN (missile)tier 2MILAN Anti-Tank Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: MILAN (missile)tier 2Nag (missile), Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Nag Anti-Tank missile (GlobalSecurity.org)Nirbhay, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: NirbhayOSV-96, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: OSV-96PIAT (Anti-Tank Weapon), Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: PIATtier 4Prithvi (missile), Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Prithvi (missile)tier 2PT-76, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source PT-76, WikipediaPULS (multiple rocket launcher), Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: PULS (multiple rocket launcher)RPO-A Shmel, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: RPO-A ShmelSnider-Enfield, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Snider-EnfieldUzi, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Uzitier 4Vickers MBT, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Vickers MBTVickers-Berthier, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Vickers-Berthier (Wikipedia)Wieger StG-940, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Small Arms Review: East German Wieger STG RifleIn the Other AtlasesFound InIndiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Source Indian Army, WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articleQuote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articleThe President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).Sources1. Indian Army, WikipediaLead, first sentence, first clauseis the land-based branchOrigins passage, sentence on 1 April 1895was established on 1 April 1895 alongside the long established presidency armies of the East India CompanyLead, first sentence, second clauseand largest component of the Indian Armed ForcesView the SourceWikipedia: BrahMostier 4WikipediaAssociated With: BrahMos Missile, service history sectionOn 21 June 2007, the Indian Army raised its first BrahMos regiment, designated 861 Missile Regiment, equipped with Block-I variant.Operates: BrahMos Missile, Infobox: used_byIndian Army Indian Navy Indian Air Force Philippine Marine CorpsView the SourceWikipedia: PULS (multiple rocket launcher)Operates: PULS (multiple rocket launcher), Article textQuote, Operates: PULS (multiple rocket launcher), Article textIndia Indian Army, Suryastra multi calibre rocket launcher system was ordered in January 2026 at a cost of ₹292.69 crore (US$30 million) from NIBE Limited.View the SourceWikipedia: ASMIOperates: ASMI, Article textQuote, Operates: ASMI, Article textThe entire 550 guns were delivered to the Indian Army by 1 October 2024.View the SourceNag Anti-Tank missile (GlobalSecurity.org)Operates: Nag (missile), Nag page, Army and Air Force versionsQuote, Operates: Nag (missile), Nag page, Army and Air Force versionsFor the Army, the missiles will be carried by specialist carrier vehicles equipped with a thermal imager for target acquisition.View the SourceVickers-Berthier (Wikipedia)Operates: Vickers-Berthier, History, Vickers-Berthier machine gunQuote, Operates: Vickers-Berthier, History, Vickers-Berthier machine gunIt was adopted by the Indian Army in 1933.View the SourceIshapore 2A1 rifle (Wikipedia)Operates: Ishapore 2A1 rifle, HistoryQuote, Operates: Ishapore 2A1 rifle, HistoryThe 2A was widely used by the Indian Army after the Sino-Indian War in 1962View the SourceSmall Arms Review: East German Wieger STG RifleSmall Arms ReviewOperates: Wieger StG-940, HistoryQuote, Operates: Wieger StG-940, HistoryA second larger order was received from India for their army.View the SourceWikipedia: Prithvi (missile)tier 2WikipediaOperates: Prithvi (missile), Description, Prithvi IQuote, Operates: Prithvi (missile), Description, Prithvi IThis class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994.View the SourceBarak 8, WikipediaOperates: Barak 8, Infobox: used_byQuote, Operates: Barak 8, Infobox: used_byIndian Navy Indian Air Force Indian Army Israeli Navy United Arab Emirates Army Azerbaijan Air ForceView the SourceAkash (missile), WikipediaOperates: Akash Missile, Infobox: used_byQuote, Operates: Akash Missile, Infobox: used_byIndian Army Indian Air Force Armenian Armed Forces See OperatorsView the SourceWikipedia: NirbhayOperates: Nirbhay, Infobox: used_byQuote, Operates: Nirbhay, Infobox: used_byStrategic Forces Command Indian Army Indian Air Force Indian NavyView the SourceWikipedia: Uzitier 4WikipediaOperates: Uzi, Article textQuote, Operates: Uzi, Article textThough the weapon was phased out of frontline IDF service in the 1980s, some Uzis and Uzi variants were still used by a few IDF units until December 2003, when the IDF announced that it was retiring the Uzi from all IDF forces. It was subsequently replaced by the fully automatic Micro Tavor.View the SourceWikipedia: AH-64 Apachetier 4WikipediaOperates: AH-64 Apache, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AH-64 Apache, Wikipedia article textIn February 2020, another six for the Indian Army were ordered, including weapons, equipment, and training; deliveries are planned to begin in 2023.View the SourceWikipedia: PIATtier 4WikipediaOperates: PIAT (Anti-Tank Weapon), Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: PIAT (Anti-Tank Weapon), Wikipedia article textThe Indian Army was still using PIATs by the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, they were used at the Battle of Longewala helping to halt the Pakistani armoured division advance.View the SourceWikipedia: INSAS rifleOperates: INSAS rifle, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: INSAS rifle, Wikipedia article textThe INSAS rifle saw limited use in the Indian Army's counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, but was extensively used by Central Armed Police Forces in combating Maoist insurgency.View the SourceWikipedia: Snider-EnfieldOperates: Snider-Enfield, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Snider-Enfield, Wikipedia article textThe British Indian Army used the Snider-Enfield until the end of the nineteenth century.View the SourceWikipedia: AK-203Operates: AK-203, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AK-203, Wikipedia article textMeanwhile, the rest of the 600,000 rifles that are to be produced by Indo-Russia Rifles in India under technology transfer will be used by the Indian Army.View the SourceWikipedia: RPO-A ShmelOperates: RPO-A Shmel, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: RPO-A Shmel, Wikipedia article textIt was used by Indian Army in September 2016 for surgical strike against insurgents in Pakistan-administered Kashmir successfully.View the SourceWikipedia: Humber armoured carOperates: Humber armoured car, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Humber armoured car, Wikipedia article textA British Indian Army armoured car regiment, partly equipped with Humbers, served in the reconquest of Burma.View the SourceWikipedia: Daimler armoured carOperates: Daimler armoured car, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Daimler armoured car, Wikipedia article textA British Indian Army armoured car regiment, the 16th Light Cavalry, which formed part of Fourteenth Army troops was partly equipped with Daimlers and served in the reconquest of Burma.View the SourcePT-76, WikipediaOperates: PT-76, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: PT-76, Wikipedia article textPT-76s were in service with the Indian Army and they were in reserve status before they were withdrawn from service in 2009, after which they were used for target practice by the army and as static memorials at various military facilities.View the SourceArjun (tank), WikipediaOperates: Arjun Tank, LeadQuote, Operates: Arjun Tank, LeadThe Arjun (pronounced [ɐɽˈdʑʊn]) is a third generation main battle tank developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the Indian Army.View the SourceWikipedia: Vickers MBTOperates: Vickers MBT, LeadQuote, Operates: Vickers MBT, LeadA variant was built under licence in India as the Vijayanta, and served with the Indian Army.View the SourceWikipedia: MILAN (missile)tier 2WikipediaOperates: MILAN Anti-Tank Missile, OperatorsIndia - Indian Army: 34,100 MILAN-2T bought. License produced by Bharat Dynamics in India.Operates: MILAN, OperatorsIndia - Indian Army: 34,100 MILAN-2T bought. License produced by Bharat Dynamics in India.View the SourceWikipedia: K9 ThunderOperates: K9 Thunder, OperatorsQuote, Operates: K9 Thunder, OperatorsIndia - 100 K9 Vajra-T in service in the Indian Army, with 100 more on order.View the SourceWikipedia: Denel NTW-20Operates: Denel NTW-20, OperatorsQuote, Operates: Denel NTW-20, OperatorsIndia: Used by the Indian Army.View the SourceWikipedia: OSV-96Operates: OSV-96, OperatorsQuote, Operates: OSV-96, OperatorsIndia: Used by the Indian Army.View the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.