The assertion "high on courage, low on modern weapons" accurately reflects a core challenge for the Indian Armed Forces.

While Indian soldiers are renowned for their discipline and valor, the military's modernization efforts are hampered by a slow procurement process, persistent bureaucratic hurdles, and a significant portion of its defense budget being spent on salaries and pensions rather than new technology.

This creates a mix of modern and aging equipment across all three services.

Army: A Mixed Arsenal-

The Indian Army, the world's second-largest, is a clear example of this duality. While it's actively modernizing, many units still use outdated equipment.

• Small Arms: The military is replacing its old INSAS rifles with new SIG Sauer SIG 716i battle rifles and Russian-origin AK-203 assault rifles. However, a full transition to these modern weapons will take time, leaving a mixed arsenal in the interim.

• Artillery: Modernization has been a priority for the "King of Battles." The army has inducted the K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers and the lightweight M777 howitzers. Additionally, India's indigenous Dhanush and Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) projects show a commitment to self-reliance.

• Armored Forces: The army relies on a large fleet of Russian-origin T-72 and T-90 tanks, with many T-72s undergoing upgrades. The indigenous Arjun MBT has been inducted, but its long development history highlights the challenges of domestic defense production.

Air Force: A Slipping Edge-

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is struggling to maintain its squadron strength as old aircraft retire faster than new ones are inducted.

• Fighter Jets: The IAF's sanctioned strength is 42 squadrons, but it currently operates with around 31. The induction of Rafale jets from France has been a significant upgrade, and the indigenous Tejas Mark 1A light combat aircraft is an important step toward self-reliance. However, this is not enough to bridge the gap.

• Drone and Air Defense Systems: India is heavily investing in next-generation warfare technologies, including UAS (unmanned aerial systems) and electronic warfare. It is acquiring drones and developing its own indigenous systems. The acquisition of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems provides a crucial long-range interception capability.

The Fiscal Reality-

The biggest impediment to modernization is financial.

• Budget Allocation: While India has a sizable defense budget, a large portion is allocated to revenue expenditure—paying salaries, pensions, and maintenance. This leaves a smaller, often inadequate, amount for capital expenditure, which is what pays for the acquisition of new weapons and technology. For the fiscal year 2025-26, defense pensions and salaries accounted for roughly 50% of the budget.

• Procurement Delays: The Indian defense acquisition process is notoriously slow and bureaucratic, often taking decades to finalize a contract. This means that by the time a system is finally acquired, it may no longer be cutting-edge. This also leads to overspending and missed opportunities.