Who is ahead in missile, air defense systems—India or Pakistan?

Amid recent tensions between India and Pakistan, discussions have intensified over the military capabilities of both nations. Here's a comparison of the missile arsenals and air defense systems possessed by the two countries.

India's Agni-5 missile can strike targets between 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers away. In contrast, Pakistan’s Shaheen-3 missile has a range of 2,750 kilometers. India largely relies on Russia for its weapons systems, while Pakistan depends heavily on China.

Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems

India’s missile defense system includes two primary types of interceptors: the Prithvi Air Defense (PAD) system, which counters high-altitude ballistic missile threats, and the Advanced Air Defense (AAD) system, which is designed to intercept lower-altitude targets. Reports suggest that India’s anti-ballistic missile system is capable of neutralizing threats from missiles launched from at least 5,000 kilometers away.

In collaboration with Russia, India has also developed the BrahMos-1 and BrahMos-2 hypersonic cruise missiles, which can be launched from land, air, sea, and sub-sea platforms. On the other hand, Pakistan has a wide array of conventional and nuclear-capable missile options. Both nations have advanced their missile capabilities in response to perceived threats from each other. However, unlike India, Pakistan does not possess intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Pakistan Lacks ICBMs

Rahul Bedi, a well-known Indian defense analyst, has pointed out that if matters escalate to the use of ICBMs, it would be a point of no return. He stated, “An ICBM has a flight time of just 15 to 20 seconds. It is a strategic weapon, and India developed it with China in mind.” According to him, Pakistan neither has nor needs ICBMs, as its entire defense strategy is centered around India, whereas India's primary strategic focus is China. This was also evident in a letter written by then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to U.S. President Bill Clinton after India’s nuclear tests in 1998.

Pakistan, with assistance from China, has developed the Shaheen missile series, which includes short, medium, and long-range variants. In response to India’s offensive capabilities, Pakistan has also been working on its own anti-ballistic missile systems. While Pakistan possesses the HQ-9BE air defense system, experts suggest it would not be easy for Pakistan to intercept India’s BrahMos missiles.

Rahul Bedi further noted that India has both strategic and conventional missiles, along with an improved surveillance infrastructure. India’s air defense systems are also significantly more advanced compared to Pakistan’s. As a result, it seems unlikely that Pakistan would initiate an attack on Indian military installations, given the imbalance in defense preparedness.