How ‘Nuclear-Capable’ is India and China?
With recent military conflicts between India and China over territorial boundaries, the question of whether the two nations will get into war is likely in every person’s head.
It is well known that the two nations are great nuclear powers, but what impact will this lead to in case the two nations get into a nuclear war?
The article analyzes the nuclear strength of both India and China bringing in doubt who might win the battle.
Also Read: Who is the Mightier – Chinese Dragon or India’s Elephant?
Chinese Nuclear Strike – Force & Range
An estimated 104 Chinese missiles could strike all or parts of India. The weaponry includes about a dozen DF-31A and six to twelve DF-31 missiles capable enough of reaching all Indian mainland targets. Another dozen DF-21s hold New Delhi at risk. The remaining missiles can target sections of India’s northeast and east coast.
| Missile Type | Rocket Force Base and Location | Color (of circle) | Approx. Missile Range (miles) |
| DF-31A | Base 56: Beidao/ Tawanli, Gansu Province | Yellow | 6,830 |
| DF-21, DF-31 | Base 56: Xining, Qinghai Province | Bright Green | 1,335 (DF-21)4,350 (DF-31) |
| DF-21, DF-31 | Base 56: Delingha, Qinghai Province | Red | 1,335 (DF-21)4,350 (DF-31) |
| DF-21 | Base 56: Liuqingkou, Qinghai Province | Black | 1,335 |
| DF-21 | Base 56: Korla, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region | White | 1,335 |
| DF-21 | Base 53: Jianshui, Yunnan Province | Blue | 1,335 |
| DF-21 | Base 53: Chuxiong, Yunnan Province | Dark Green | 1,335 |
| DF-41 | Base: Heilongjiang | – | 12-15,000 |
China’s Nuclear Forces Strike Range
| Icon | Name | Nuclear and Nuclear-Capable Missile Numbers | Location (URLs) |
 | Chuxiong Brigade, 53rd Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150km range) | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Kunming Brigade, 53rd Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Tianshui Brigade, 53rd Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Beidao/Tawanli Brigade, 56th Base | ~ 12 x DF-31A (11,000 km range) | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Xining Brigade, 56th Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) / DF-31 (7,000 km range) | With Strike Range Filter No Filter(Unable to determine exact missile locations, so location of 56th Base HQ utilized) |
 | Datong Brigade, 56th Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Liuqingkou Brigade, 56th Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Delingha Brigade, 56th Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) /DF-31 (7,000 km range). DF-21C (2,150km range) conventional missiles. | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Da Qaidam Brigade, 56th Base | DF-21C (2,150km range) conventional missiles. Unknown nuclear missile deployments. (Previously DF-4 Brigade, but only DF-4 Brigade still in operation is close to Lingbao in Henan Province). | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Mahai Brigade, 56th Base | Unknown | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
 | Korla Brigade, 56th Base | ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) missiles. DF-21C (2,150km range) conven- tional missiles | With Strike Range Filter No Filter |
| Total Nuclear and Nuclear-Capable Forces | > 104 missiles that can strike all or elements of India, including: ~ 12 x DF-31A (11,000 km range),~ 6-12 DF-31 (7,000 km range) that can reach all Indian mainland targets. ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) that can reach New Delhi. The remaining missiles can target sections of India’s northeast and east coast. | – | – |
Indian Nuclear Strike – Force & Range
The bulk of India’s missile forces are located closer to Pakistan than China. According to an estimate, around ten Agni-III launchers can reach the entire Chinese mainland. Another eight Agni-II launchers can reach central Chinese targets.
An estimated two squadrons of Jaguar IS and one squadron of Mirage 2000H fighters, totaling around 51 aircraft, are assessed to be tasked with nuclear missions. These aircraft could most likely reach Tibetan airspace equipped with nuclear gravity bombs.
Going deep down into Chinese territories would turn out to be difficult as these aircrafts can be identified and tracked Chinese air defenses.
| Nuclear Delivery Vehicle Type | Location | Color (of circle) | Approx. Range (miles) |
| Agni-III | Assam State | Yellow | 1,990 |
| Agni-II | Assam State | Red | 1,240 |
| Mirage 2000H fighters, with nuclear gravity bombs | Gwalior AFS, Madhya Pradesh State | Green | 920 |
| Jaguar IS fighters, with nuclear gravity bombs | Ambala AFS, Haryana State | Pink | 560 |
| Jaguar IS fighters, with nuclear gravity bombs | Gorakhpur AFS, Uttar Pradesh State | Blue | 560 |
India’s Nuclear Forces Strike Range
| Icon | Name | Nuclear and Nuclear-Certified Delivery Vehicles | Location |
 | Ambala AFS | ~ 17 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft to carry gravity bombs, #5 Sq. & #14 Sq. Jaguar IS | With Strike Range Filter |
 | Gwalior/ Maharajpur AFS | ~ 17 nuclear-certified fighters to carry gravity bombs, #1 Sq., #7 Sq., & #9 Sq. Mirage 2000H/TH. | With Strike Range Filter(Dark Blue Circle) |
 | Gorakhpur AFS | ~ 17 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft to carry gravity bombs, #16 Sq. & #27 Sq. Jaguar IS | With Strike Range Filter |
 | 444 Missile Group Brigade | (Possible General Brigade Sites) ~ 8 Prithvi-II (250 km range) missile launchers total | On Strike Range Map (No Strike Range Circle) |
 | 444 Missile Group Brigade | ||
 | 444 Missile Group Brigade | ||
 | 444 Missile Group Brigade | ||
 | 334 Missile Group, 3341 Brigade | ~ 8 Agni-III (3,200 km range) missile launchers,~ 8 Agni-II (2,000 km range) missile launchers | With Strike Range Filter (Green Circle) |
 | 333 Missile Group, 3332 Brigade | ~ 8 Prithvi-II (250 km range) mis- sile launchers | On Strike Range Map (No Circle) |
 | 332 Missile Group Brigade | ~ 8 Agni-II (2,000 km range) missile launchers | With Strike Range Filter (Purple Circle) |
 | 334 Missile Group, 3341 Brigade | ~ 10 Agni-I (1,000km range) mis- sile launchers | On Strike Range Map (No Circle) |
 | 333 Missile Group, 3331and 3332 Brigades. 334 Missile Group Brigade. | ~ 16 Prithvi-II (250 km range) missile launchers ~ 10 Agni-I (1,000km range) missile launchers | On Strike Range Map (No Circle) |
| Total Estimated Nuclear and Nuclear- Certified Forces | ~8 Agni-III launchers able to reach all Chinese mainland targets and~8 Agni-II launchers able to reach central Chinese targets (e.g. Xi’an, Chongqing). ~51 nuclear-certified aircraft with gravity bombs and~8 Agni-II launchers able to reach Tibet. |
(The data presented in the article has been sourced from “The Strategic Postures of China and India” Frank O’Donnell & Alex Bollfrass)
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