India Faces Growing Missile Threat from China's Expanding PLA Rocket Force with Over 2,050 Ballistic and Cruise Missiles

India faces a growing missile threat from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force, which has amassed an extensive arsenal of over 2,050 ballistic and cruise missiles.

This arsenal, comprising a diverse range of missiles with varying ranges and capabilities, poses significant challenges to India's defence strategies and national security.

The PLA Rocket Force's inventory includes over 1,300 Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) capable of striking targets within a 1,000–3,000 km range. These missiles pose a direct threat to India's critical infrastructure, including cities, military installations, and command centres.

Furthermore, China possesses 500 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), 250 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs), and a substantial stockpile of Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) and Ground-Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCMs).

This vast and diverse arsenal presents multiple challenges for India:

• Overwhelming existing defences: India's current missile defence capabilities, including the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) program, may struggle to counter the sheer volume and sophistication of China's missile arsenal. Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) and decoy systems employed in ICBMs and MRBMs could overwhelm existing defence systems.
• Extended reach: IRBMs and ICBMs, such as the CSS-18 Mod 1/2/3 and CSS-10 Mod 2/3, can target not only Indian territory but also its allies and assets across the Indo-Pacific, enhancing China's coercive power in the region.
• Tactical advantage: China's SRBM inventory, particularly the CSS-6 Mod 3 and CSS-7 Mod 1/2, provides a significant advantage in limited conventional conflicts. These missiles can deliver rapid and devastating strikes against Indian forces stationed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Low-altitude threat: The CJ-10 and CJ-10A GLCMs, with ranges exceeding 1,500 km, present a low-altitude threat that complicates India's air defence efforts. These missiles can be launched from concealed positions, making them difficult to detect and neutralize.

Overview of China's Missile Arsenal​

• ICBMs (Range >5,500 km): CSS-10 Mod 1/2/3, CSS-4 Mod 2/3/4, CSS-20 and Silo-Based Missiles
• IRBMs (Range 3,000 km – 5,500 km): CSS-18 Mod 1/2/3
• MRBMs (Range 1,000 km – 3,000 km): CSS-5 Mod 2/4A/5A/5B, CSS-11 Mod 2/3, CSS-22
• SRBMs (Range 300 km – 1,000 km): CSS-6 Mod 3, CSS-7 Mod 1/2, CSS-11 Mod 1
• GLCMs: CJ-10 and CJ-10A (>1,500 km range)

China's expanding missile inventory significantly alters the strategic landscape for India. It necessitates not only a military response, such as strengthening missile defence systems and diversifying offensive capabilities, but also a strategic re-evaluation of India's defence policies, international relations, and national security apparatus to effectively address this evolving threat.

 

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[alok ranjan bhunia]

Take precautions, but don't worry, most of them are water fueled, can't be fired when required. They believe deception is art of war...

 

[M S ChatterjiVerified member]

Ninety percent of this arsenal is positioned east at the China sea from Japan to Philippines. Hence these numbers are for intimidation only.

 

[swatkats_razor]

There is a reason most nations do not maintain a zoo of different missiles in their arsenal, rather they focus on a few reliable missile-types instead.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Ninety percent of this arsenal is positioned east at the China sea from Japan to Philippines. Hence these numbers are for intimidation only.

How long did it take for mongol warriors on horseback to move from east to western part of the kingdom? 1 month. It is easy to reposition items if those are roadmobile, seamobile and spacemobile

 

[Kira]

Ninety percent of this arsenal is positioned east at the China sea from Japan to Philippines. Hence these numbers are for intimidation only.

That is true, but still PRC has the advantage as lots of these road mobile short ranged and intermediate range missiles can be targeted at India too,plus India's heartland is directly exposed to Chinese firepower while Tibet and Xianjing offer big buffers for PRC against any substantial Indian attack.

 

[मित्र]

How long did it take for mongol warriors on horseback to move from east to western part of the kingdom? 1 month. It is easy to reposition items if those are roadmobile, seamobile and spacemobile

Spacemobile?

 

[Satish sh]

Take precautions, but don't worry, most of them are water fueled, can't be fired when required. They believe deception is art of war...

this exact ignorance will take you on the sweet path of death easily.. and i will be most happy to see this.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Take precautions, but don't worry, most of them are water fueled, can't be fired when required. They believe deception is art of war...

By that logic, let's discard our long range missiles because China is obsolete as their entire missiles are water fueled toys. So, not threat for us.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Spacemobile?

I refer to fractional orbital weapon that orbits earth with a nuclear weapon indefinitely till ready to attack. It can be launched many months early and stay in orbit for years.

 

[Parthasarathi DasGupta]

I think India is losing ground on arms and air force fight to China..we need to develop both at fast pace

 

[skgs]

Worst thing is China can double triple their missile inventory in short notice. They have enormous capability to scale it massively anytime they want. India can get Iron dome and iron beam from Israel and mass produce it locally. No other choice I guess.

 

[SR]

I refer to fractional orbital weapon that orbits earth with a nuclear weapon indefinitely till ready to attack. It can be launched many months early and stay in orbit for years.

It is called slam missile, I don't know full form, once a slam missile is launched on a country it continuously moves in the airspace of that country with hypersonic speeds for months worst thing is it can even release small quantities of nuclear material continuously for months. It is produced first by Russia & later US also produced these. I think china might have them unofficially

 

[Ankit Singhal]

Only option is to amend relationship with China & for own safety, build strong missile force. In future, we may have threat from western world or America rather China. Curb population by bringing population bill but government is doing nothing in this direction. Why Surya is not tested yet...

 

[ronnie alberts]

China is not going to fire all of 13000 missiles at us at the same time but yes we must counter that by increasing reach and capability of our missile force. We should also have a missile force of at least 8000 to 10000 missile inventory with matching ranges that would cover all of china. Mutual assured destruction must also apply to non nuclear domain in case of Chinese.

 

[SGN]

How long did it take for mongol warriors on horseback to move from east to western part of the kingdom? 1 month. It is easy to reposition items if those are roadmobile, seamobile and spacemobile

How long did it take for Mongol warriors to conquer China?

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

It is called slam missile, I don't know full form, once a slam missile is launched on a country it continuously moves in the airspace of that country with hypersonic speeds for months worst thing is it can even release small quantities of nuclear material continuously for months. It is produced first by Russia & later US also produced these. I think china might have them unofficially

small correction: I refer to Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), It is placed in orbit like a satellite and does not need much propulsion to move that much for months. You referred to Supersonic Low Altitude Missile (SLAM) which is a different one and flies at lower altitude IN AIR and needs rocket engine to fly continuously. FOBS is a space weapon. It does not fly like missile but ORBITS IN SPACE.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

I refer to fractional orbital weapon that orbits earth with a nuclear weapon indefinitely till ready to attack. It can be launched many months early and stay in orbit for years.

You are completely ignorant on fractional orbital bombardment systems. Till today nothing of the sort exists anywhere that eternally revolves around earth with nuclear weapons.

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

Wow, that is indeed one formidable missile stockpile in chinese military arsenal. But in paper it looks very impressive. I am not sure how these missiles will perform against china's adversaries who have their advanced technologies to counter chinese crook minded tactics.

 

[Rajan Nair]

Before the war started between Russia and Ukraine, various news channels and military experts opined that Russia will capture Ukraine within no time taking into account the formidable Russian arsenal. But what happened in reality which all of us have seen. Russia also suffered heavily. By any account China is not as big as Russia with regard to military arsenal. And by any means India is more equipped than Ukraine to fight China in the worst scenario. So don't panic us dear reporters

 

[Koorma]

A few nuclear weapons are good enough to counter a massive attack.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

You are completely ignorant on fractional orbital bombardment systems. Till today nothing of the sort exists anywhere that eternally revolves around earth with nuclear weapons.

Soviets developed these nuclear FOBS in 1960s. PRC has FOBS with HGV tech. US has X-37B space plane that is dual purpose tech to set anything in orbit in space. FOBS is nothing new. Any advanced space nation that can put a satellite in orbit can develop a FOBS.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

A few nuclear weapons are good enough to counter a massive attack.

Nukes are rarely used weapons in war. Only recorded use is in Japan. So, we need long range equal amount of conventional weapons along with adequate nos. of ICBMs for eventual deterrence.