India has the Russian S-400 air defense system.
New Delhi: India and Pakistan—two nuclear-armed neighbours—have long been racing to build stronger missile systems. While Pakistan has made progress with support from other countries, India’s home-grown missile program has gone much further. Thanks to years of hard work, innovation, and focus on self-reliance, India now stands ahead in both quality and quantity of missiles. Here’s how India’s missile systems are stronger than Pakistan’s—whether in terms of range, variety, or advanced technology.
Longer Range and Stronger Reach
Pakistan’s most powerful missile, the Shaheen-III, can travel up to 2,750 km—enough to cover most of India. But India’s Agni-V missile can fly over 5,000 to 8,000 km, reaching even China, Europe, and beyond. The full Agni series, from Agni-I to Agni-V, gives India the ability to respond to different threats at different distances.
More importantly, India has submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) like the K-4, with a range of 3,500 km. This gives India strong second-strike ability—meaning, even if attacked first, it can strike back from hidden submarines. In contrast, Pakistan’s missile range stays within South Asia. India’s far-reaching missiles offer strategic power that Pakistan simply doesn’t have.
More Advanced and Varied Missile Types
Pakistan’s missile collection mainly includes short and medium-range weapons like the Nasr (70 km) and Ababeel (2,200 km), plus cruise missiles like Babur and Ra’ad. These are useful for close-range or regional use.
India, however, has a much wider variety. The BrahMos, developed with Russia, is a supersonic cruise missile that travels at Mach 3 and can be launched from land, sea, air, and submarines. In comparison, Pakistan’s Babur is subsonic and slower.
India also has missiles like Pralay (500 km) and Shaurya (700 km) that are quick to launch and highly accurate. In 2024, India tested a hypersonic missile that flies at Mach 9—something Pakistan hasn’t achieved yet. This broad range of missiles means India can handle many types of threats, quickly and effectively.
Strong Missile Defense System
India has built a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system to shoot down incoming missiles—even nuclear ones. It has two layers:
PAD (Prithvi Air Defence) for high-altitude interceptions.
AAD (Advanced Air Defence) for lower-level threats.
This system can stop missiles coming from as far as 5,000 km away. On top of this, India has also bought the Russian S-400 air defense system, adding another layer of protection.
Pakistan has only just started working on a basic missile defense system like Hatf-IX, which is still in its early stages and far less capable. India’s defense systems reduce the chance of successful enemy attacks and give it a huge advantage in any future conflict.
Made in India: Innovation and Independence
Pakistan’s missile program relies heavily on help from China, North Korea, and Iran. For example, Pakistan’s Ghauri missile is based on North Korea’s Rodong-1. This dependence makes it hard for Pakistan to create new or original systems on its own.
India, in contrast, has focused on building its own technology since the 1980s, when the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was launched by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. India learned to make everything from ring-laser gyroscopes to composite rocket motors. Even under Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions, India developed most of its missile systems indigenously. Today, more than 90% of India’s missiles are made with Indian technology. This protects India from foreign sanctions and delays—something Pakistan still struggles with.
Matching Pakistan’s Tactical Missiles
Pakistan’s Nasr missile is built for use in battles close to the border. It carries a small nuclear warhead and is aimed at countering India’s stronger army. But India has an answer—Prahaar (150 km) and Pralay (500 km), which are just as effective and more accurate.
India also has air-launched missiles like Rudram-II and BrahMos-A that can strike deep inside Pakistan without even crossing the border. These are great for precision strikes, like targeting terrorist camps. With these tools, India can neutralize Pakistan’s short-range missiles and tactical advantages.
Ready for the Future
India isn’t just focused on today—it’s preparing for tomorrow. New developments include:
MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles) for missiles like Agni-Prime, which can hit multiple targets with one missile.
Hypersonic glide vehicles that are faster and harder to stop.
Scramjet engines and advanced satellite navigation for better control and speed.
Pakistan has also tested its Ababeel missile with MIRV features—but it’s still in early testing. India’s upcoming Phase-III BMD is being built to stop even hypersonic threats, keeping it far ahead of regional rivals.
Conclusion: India’s Clear Advantage
India has built a powerful missile force that beats Pakistan’s in range, variety, technology, and defense. While Pakistan has made progress with missiles like Shaheen-III and Babur, India’s Agni-V, BrahMos, and BMD systems place it in a whole different league.
Most importantly, India’s focus on self-reliance means it can keep improving without depending on others. With a missile program that is both strong today and ready for tomorrow, India remains one step ahead—defending its borders and making its mark as a global missile leader.
(The author Girish Linganna of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)
