The Wire · live GRID-REF 37°47′N 122°25′W
DISPATCH 03/26 · 18 Sep 2026
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India Coverage
Land · artillery · howitzerPro

Dhanush 155 mm Howitzer

India's domestically produced 155 mm/45-caliber towed howitzer, developed from the FH-77B lineage with digital fire control, automatic laying and an auxiliary power unit.

Land · main-battle-tank · armored-warfarePro

Arjun Mk-1A

India's heavily upgraded Arjun main battle tank, combining a 120 mm rifled gun, expanded protection and modernized sights with significant mobility, logistics and engine-supply constraints.

Air · attack-helicopter · light-combat-helicopterPro

HAL LCH Prachand

India's indigenous light attack helicopter, designed for armed reconnaissance, escort and anti-armor missions from demanding high-altitude bases.

Land · mlrs · rocket-artilleryPro

Pinaka

India's rocket artillery — the Pinaka fires a salvo of twelve rockets in under a minute, saturating targets out to 40 km and, in guided versions, 75–120 km. Battle-proven since Kargil in 1999 and used again in 2025, it is now exported to Armenia.

air defense · sam · surface-to-air-missilePro

Akash

India's home-built air shield — the Akash is an indigenous medium-range surface-to-air missile that guards against jets, drones and cruise missiles out to ~25 km. It performed well in India's 2025 clash with Pakistan and won its first export, to Armenia.

missiles · ballistic-missile · icbmPro

Agni-V

India's long-range deterrent — the Agni-V is a road-mobile, nuclear-capable ballistic missile that puts all of China within reach. In 2024 India test-fired a version carrying multiple independently-targeted warheads (MIRV), joining a small club of powers with that technology.

Air · fighter · light-fighterPro

HAL Tejas

India's home-built fighter — four decades in the making — the Tejas is a light, agile single-engine delta jet that finally gave India an indigenous combat aircraft. The Mk1A adds AESA radar and beyond-visual-range missiles; the bigger Mk2 is coming. The flagship of India's defence self-reliance.

missiles · cruise-missile · supersonicPro

BrahMos

The world's fastest cruise missile in service — India and Russia's BrahMos is a Mach-3 ramjet weapon that hits ships and land targets from sea, land, air and submarine. India used it in combat against Pakistan in 2025 and now exports it to the Philippines.