MARCH 2020

The Strategic Postures of

China and India: A Visual Guide
Frank O’Donnell
Alex Bollfrass

Force Tables Reference Sheet

This document contains the accompanying tables for

“The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide.”

See the full report and the accompanying interactive

maps at belfercenter.org/StrategicPostures

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | March 2020 1
Ground Forces: China
Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location
Command

Tibet Military
52nd Mountain Infantry Brigade HQ Infantry Brigade ~ 4,600 (total) Link
District (MD)

Unit 77675, 52nd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

Unit 77678, Artillery Regiment, 52nd

Tibet MD Artillery Regiment ~ 1,100 Link
Mountain Infantry Brigade

1st Battalion, 52nd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

2nd Battalion, 52nd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

3rd Battalion, 52nd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

4th Battalion, 52nd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

53rd Mountain Infantry Brigade HQ Tibet MD Infantry Brigade ~ 4,600 (total) Link

Unit 77680, 53rd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

Artillery Regiment, Unit 77683, 53rd

Tibet MD Artillery Regiment ~ 1,100 Link
Mountain Infantry Brigade

1st Battalion, 53rd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

2nd Battalion, 53rd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

3rd Battalion, 53rd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

4th Battalion, 53rd Mountain Infantry

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Brigade

54th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Tibet MD Infantry Brigade ~ 3,000 Link

308th Artillery Brigade Tibet MD Artillery Brigade ~ 3,000 Link

Gyantse County 1st Independent

Battalion, Unit 77655 (India and Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Bhutan Borders) 

Gangba County 2nd Independent

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Battalion, Unit 77656 (India Border)

Medog County 3rd Independent

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Battalion

Milin 4th Independent Battalion Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link

Luoza County 5th Independent

Tibet MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link
Battalion (Bhutan Border)

1st Border Defense Regiment, Unit

Tibet MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link
77629 (India and Bhutan Borders)

2nd Border Defense Regiment, Unit

Tibet MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link
77635 (India and Bhutan Borders)

3rd Border Defense Regiment, Unit

Tibet MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link
77639 (India and Nepal Borders)

4th Border Defense Regiment, Unit-

Tibet MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link
77643 (India Border)

5th Border Defense Regiment, Unit

Tibet MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link
77646 (Nepal Border)

6th Border Defense Regiment, Unit-

Tibet MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link
77649 (India and Bhutan Borders)

Nathu La Outpost, 6th Border

Tibet MD N/A ? Link
Defense Regiment

9th Border Defense Regiment Tibet MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link

Total Ground Forces: Tibet Military District ~ 40,000

Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location

Command

6th Mechanized Infantry Division Xinjiang MD Infantry Division ~ 13,000 total Link

6th Armor Regiment Xinjiang MD Armor Regiment ~ 1,200 Link

17th Infantry Regiment Xinjiang MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link

18th Infantry Regiment Xinjiang MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link

Artillery Regiment Xinjiang MD Artillery Regiment ~1,100 Link

Air Defense Regiment Xinjiang MD Air Defense Regiment ~ 1,000 Link

4th Motorized Infantry Division Xinjiang MD Infantry Division ~ 13,000 Link

8th Motorized Infantry Division Xinjiang MD Infantry Division ~ 13,000 Link

2nd Artillery Brigade Xinjiang MD Artillery Brigade ~ 3,000 Link

11th Motorized Infantry Division Xinjiang MD Infantry Division ~ 13,000 Link

High-Powered Artillery Brigade Xinjiang MD Artillery Brigade ~ 3,000 Link

Special Operations
Special Operations Force Brigade Xinjiang MD ~ 500 Link
Force Brigade

1st Independent Regiment Xinjiang MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link

2nd Independent Regiment Xinjiang MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link

12th Border Defense Regiment Xinjiang MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link

13th Border Defense Regiment Xinjiang MD Infantry Regiment ~ 2,800 Link

Total Ground Forces: Xinjiang Military District ~ 70,000

Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location

Command

~ 45,000-60,000
total, including
17th, 56th, 62nd,
149th, and 182nd
Combined Arms
Western
Brigades, 77th
76th Group Army Theater Group Army Link
Special Operations
Command
Forces Brigade,
Engineer Brigade,
Army Aviation Bri-
gade, and Support
Service Brigade.
Western
Artillery Brigade, 76th Group Army Theater Artillery Brigade ~ 3,000 Link
Command

Western
Air Defense Brigade, 76th Group Army Theater Air Defense Brigade ~ 2,500 Link
Command

Western
12th Armor Brigade,
Theater Armor Brigade ~ 5,000 Link
76th Group Army
Command
~ 45,000-60,000
total, including
39th, 40th, 55th,
139th, 150th, and
Western 181st Combined
77th Group Army Theater Group Army Arms Brigades, Link
Command Army Aviation
Brigade, Engineer
Brigade, and
Service Support
Brigade.
Western
Artillery Brigade,
Theater Artillery Brigade ~ 3,000 Link
77th Group Army
Command

Western
Air Defense Brigade,
Theater Air Defense Brigade ~ 2,500 Link
77th Group Army
Command

Western
Special Operations Forces Brigade, Special Operations
Theater ~ 500 Link
77th Group Army Forces Brigade
Command

Total Ground Forces: Western Theater Command ~ 90,000–120,000

Total China Ground Forces:

~ 200,000–230,000
Western Theater Command and Tibet and Xinjiang Military Districts

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | March 2020 2
Ground Forces: India
Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location
Command

Army Northern Up to 150 tanks,~

T-72 Tank Brigade Tank Formation Link
Command 3,000 personnel

Army Northern
8th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Northern
3rd Infantry Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

~ 34,000 including independent

Total Ground Forces: Army Northern Command
tank formation

Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location

Command

Army Central
6th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Total Ground Forces: Army Central Command ~ 15,500

Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location

Command

Army Eastern Mechanized Infantry

17th Mountain Strike Corps ~ 35,000 Link
Command Corps

Army Eastern
17th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
27th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
20th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
5th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
2nd Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
71st Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
21st Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
56th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern
57th Mountain Division Infantry Division ~ 15,500 Link
Command

Army Eastern Brahmos Missile ~ 100 Brahmos

Brahmos Missile Regiment Link
Command Regiment Missiles

~175,500
Total Ground Forces: Army Eastern Command
including Brahmos missile regiment

Total India Ground Forces: ~ 225,000 including independent T-72 tank brigade and
Army Northern, Central and Eastern Commands Brahmos missile regiment

Ground Forces: Comparison Table

China India
Total Ground Forces ~204,000–234,000 ~225,000 including independent
T-72 tank brigade and Brahmos
missile regiment

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | March 2020 3
Air Forces: China
Icon Name Parent Force Numbers Location
Command

Western Theater ~ 16 x J-8F Fighters,

109th Air Brigade Link
Command ~16 J-8H Fighters

Western Theater
110th Air Brigade ~ 24 x JH-7A Fighters Link
Command

~ 16 x J-11A Fighters,
Western Theater
111th Air Brigade ~ 16 x J-11BS Fighters, Link
Command
~ 2 Su-27UBK Fighters

Western Theater
112th Air Brigade ~ 32 x J-7IIM Fighters Link
Command

~ 16 J-11 Fighters,
Western Theater
16th Air Brigade ~ 16 x J-11BS Fighters, Link
Command
~ 3 Su-27UBK Fighters

~ 20 x GJ-1/WD-1K precision strike UAVs,

Western Theater 12 x WD-1 ground attack and reconnaissance UAVs,
178th UAV Brigade Link
Command 12 x WD-1 precision strike UAVs,
~ 8 EA-03 reconnaisance and EW UAVs

Western Theater Used for forward detachments of J-10, J-11 fighters EA-03
Xigaze Airfield Link
Command (UAV)s.

Lhasa/Gonggar Western Theater Used for forward detachments for J-10, J-11, Su-27UBK,
Link
Airfield Command Su-27SK fighters and BZK-05 UAVs

Western Theater
Lingzhi Airfield N/A Link
Command

Western Theater
Dangxiong Airfield N/A Link
Command

Qamdo/Pangta/ Western Theater

N/A Link
Command
Bangda Airfield

Western Theater
Nagqu Airfield N/A Link
Command

Western Theater
Ngari Gunsa Airfield Used for forward detachments of J-11, Su-27UBK, Su-27SK Link
Command

Western Theater
Hotan Airfield Used for forward detachments of J-10 and J-11 fighters. Link
Command

~ 157 fighters,
~ 20 x GJ-1/WD-1K precision strike UAVs,
Total Air Forces 12 x WD-1 ground attack and reconnaissance UAVs,
12 x WD-1 precision strike UAVs,
~ 8 EA-03 reconnaissance and electronic warfare

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | March 2020 4
Air Forces: India
Note: Bases labelled in black—e.g. —are those which have been assessed by analysts to be the most likely to contain specif-
ic aircraft squadrons that have been certified for nuclear strike missions by India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC). These bases
and squadrons are controlled by their parent Air Force Command and hold conventional assignments in peacetime. A nuclear
strike order will entail certified aircraft being armed with nuclear weapons and flown by Air Force pilots.

Icon Name Parent Force Numbers Location

Command

Srinagar Air Force Station Western Air ~ 17 fighters

Link
(AFS) Command #51 Sq. MiG-21 Bison

Western Air ~ 8 fighters

Leh AFS Link
Command #28 Sq. Detachment MiG-29/29UB

Western Air ~ 17 fighters

Pathankot AFS Link
Command #26 Sq. MiG-21

Western Air ~ 34 fighters

Adampur AFS Link
Command #47 Sq. & #223 Sq. MiG-29

~ 34 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft,

Western Air ~ 17 fighters
Ambala AFS Link
Command #5 Sq. & #14 Sq. Jaguar IS,
#3 Sq. MiG-21 Bison

Daulet Beg Oldi Advanced Western Air

N/A Link
Landing Ground (ALG) Command

Western Air
Thoise ALG N/A Link
Command

Western Air
Parma Valley ALG N/A Link
Command

Western Air
Nyoma ALG N/A Link
Command

Western Air
Fukche ALG N/A Link
Command

~ 75 fighters,
Total Air Forces: Western Air Command
~ 34 ground attack aircraft

Icon Name Parent Force Numbers Location

Command

~ 34 fighters
Central Air
Bareilly AFS #8 Sq. Su-30MKI/MKI-3, Link
Command
#24 Sq. Su-30MKI-3

~ 17 nuclear-certified (Mirage) fighters, ~9

fighters
Gwalior/ Central Air
Link
Command #1 Sq., #7 Sq., & #9 Sq. Mirage 2000H/TH. Half
Maharajpur AFS
squadron (TACDE) of MiG-21Bisons,
MiG-27MUs, & SU-30MKIs

~ 34 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft

Central Air
Gorakhpur AFS Link
Command #16 Sq. & #27 Sq. Jaguar IS

Central Air
Dharasu ALG N/A Link
Command

~ 94 fighters,
Total Air Forces: Central Air Command
~ 34 ground attack aircraft

Icon Name Parent Force Numbers Location

Command

~ 34 fighters
Eastern Air
Tezpur AFS #2 Sq. SU-30MKI/MKI3, Link
Command
#106 Sq. Su-30MKI-3

Eastern Air ~ 17 fighters

Chabua AFS Link
Command #102 Sq. Su-30MKI-3

Jalpaguiri/ Eastern Air ~ 34 fighters

Link
Command #22 Sq. & #222 Sq. MiG-27M
Hashimara AFS

Eastern Air
Tuting ALG N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Mechuka ALG N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Along ALG N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Tawang ALG (Helipad) N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Dirang ALG N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Ziro ALG N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Pasighat ALG N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Walong ALG N/A Link
Command

Eastern Air
Vijaynagar ALG N/A Link
Command

Total Air Forces: Eastern Air Command ~ 101 fighters

~ 270 fighters,
Total Air Forces
~ 68 ground attack aircraft

Air Forces: Comparison Table

China India
Total Air Forces ~ 157 fighters ~ 270 fighters
~ 20 x GJ-1/WD-1K precision strike UAVs ~ 68 ground attack aircraft
12 x WD-1 ground attack and
reconnaissance UAVs
12 x WD-1 precision strike UAVs
~ 8 EA-03 reconnaissance
and electronic warfare

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | March 2020 5
Nuclear Forces: China
Note: Not all Chinese nuclear bases have been allocated a circle indicating strike range, due to several bases having highly similar
locations and ranges and a desire to maximize map clarity. In base clusters where this occurs, one base has been allocated the
indicative range circle.

Chinese nuclear forces are operated by the Rocket Force Command, which executes nuclear strike orders made by the Central
Military Commission.

[LINK] Full Strike Range Map—China

Icon Name Nuclear and Nuclear-Capable Location (URLs)

Missile Numbers

With Strike Range Filter

Chuxiong Brigade, 53rd Base ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150km range)
No Filter

Kunming Brigade, With Strike Range Filter

~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range)
53rd Base No Filter

Tianshui Brigade, With Strike Range Filter

~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range)
53rd Base No Filter

Beidao/Tawanli Brigade, With Strike Range Filter

~ 12 x DF-31A (11,000 km range)
56th Base No Filter

With Strike Range Filter

~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) / No Filter

Xining Brigade,
56th Base (Unable to determine exact missile
DF-31 (7,000 km range)
locations, so location of 56th Base
HQ utilized)

Datong Brigade, With Strike Range Filter

~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range)
56th Base No Filter

Liuqingkou Brigade, With Strike Range Filter

~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range)
56th Base No Filter

~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) / DF-31 (7,000 km

Delingha Brigade, range). With Strike Range Filter
56th Base No Filter
DF-21C (2,150km range) conventional missiles.

DF-21C (2,150km range) conventional missiles.

Da Qaidam Brigade, 56th With Strike Range Filter
Unknown nuclear missile deployments. (Previously
Base DF-4 Brigade, but only DF-4 Brigade still in No Filter
operation is close to Lingbao in Henan Province).

Mahai Brigade, With Strike Range Filter

Unknown
56th Base No Filter

Korla Brigade, ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) missiles. With Strike Range Filter
56th Base No Filter
DF-21C (2,150km range) conventional missiles

> 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
Total Nuclear and Nuclear- targets.
Capable Forces
~ 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.

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | March 2020 6
Nuclear Forces: India
Notes: India may possess more missiles than launchers for each missile type. India has also reportedly deployed a small number
of 3,200 km range Agni-III missiles, but their locations and progress toward the targeted force strength are currently unknown. As
the authors have information indicating the potential presence of a 2,000 km range Agni-II missile brigade near Nagaon in Assam
in northeast India, the Agni-III missiles are estimated by the authors to be based in the same general area. As illustrated on the
map, this location is optimal for Agni-III missiles to reach all significant mainland targets in China and Pakistan. Missile base loca-
tions represent general estimations, as opposed to exact locations.

Not all Indian nuclear bases have been allocated a circle indicating strike range, due to several bases (e.g. 1-4) being unable to
reach Chinese targets, and some having highly similar locations and ranges in light of a desire to maximize map clarity. In base
clusters featuring at least one base able to reach Chinese targets, one base has been allocated the indicative range circle.

While the Chinese nuclear forces and locations included in this analysis are only those assessed to be most geographically relevant
to India targeting missions, the Indian nuclear forces and bases detailed here—with the exception of the nascent Arihant-class
SSBN fleet being formed at Visakhapatnam and Rambilli—represent the entirety of India’s identifiable operational nuclear forces.
The necessity to retain a significant proportion of these forces for Pakistan targeting missions provides analytical context to this
data.

As with China, nuclear warheads are held at separate locations from delivery vehicles in peacetime. A nuclear strike order is issued
by the Political Council of the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), and executed through the NCA Executive Council and military
Strategic Forces Command.

[LINK] Full Strike Range Map—India

Icon Name Nuclear and Nuclear-Certified Location

Delivery Vehicles

~ 17 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft to

carry gravity bombs,
Ambala AFS With Strike Range Filter
#5 Sq. & #14 Sq. Jaguar IS

~ 17 nuclear-certified fighters to carry gravity

Gwalior/ With Strike Range Filter
bombs,
(Dark Blue Circle)
Maharajpur AFS
#1 Sq., #7 Sq., & #9 Sq. Mirage 2000H/TH.

~ 17 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft to

carry gravity bombs,
Gorakhpur AFS With Strike Range Filter
#16 Sq. & #27 Sq. Jaguar IS

444 Missile Group On Strike Range Map

(No Strike Range Circle)
Brigade

444 Missile Group On Strike Range Map

(Possible General Brigade Sites) (No Strike Range Circle)
Brigade
~ 8 Prithvi-II (250 km range) missile
444 Missile Group
launchers total On Strike Range Map
(No Strike Range Circle)
Brigade

444 Missile Group On Strike Range Map

(No Strike Range Circle)
Brigade

~ 8 Agni-III (3,200 km range) missile launch-

With Strike Range Filter (Green
334 Missile Group, 3341 Brigade ers,~ 8 Agni-II (2,000 km range) missile
Circle)
launchers

~ 8 Prithvi-II (250 km range) missile On Strike Range Map

333 Missile Group, 3332 Brigade
launchers (No Circle)

~ 8 Agni-II (2,000 km range) missile With Strike Range Filter

332 Missile Group Brigade
launchers (Purple Circle)

On Strike Range Map

334 Missile Group, 3341 Brigade ~ 10 Agni-I (1,000km range) missile launchers
(No Circle)

333 Missile Group, 3331 and 3332 ~ 16 Prithvi-II (250 km range) missile
Brigades. launchers On Strike Range Map
(No Circle)
334 Missile Group Brigade. ~ 10 Agni-I (1,000km range) missile launchers

~8 Agni-III launchers able to reach all Chinese mainland targets and

Total Estimated Nuclear ~8 Agni-II launchers able to reach central Chinese targets (e.g. Xi’an, Chongqing).
and Nuclear-Certified
Forces ~51 nuclear-certified aircraft with gravity bombs and
~8 Agni-II launchers able to reach Tibet.

Nuclear Forces: Comparison Table

China India
Total Estimated > 104 missiles that can strike all or elements of ~10 Agni-III launchers able to reach all Chinese
Nuclear, Nuclear- India. mainland targets, and ~8 Agni-II launchers able
Capable and to reach central Chinese targets (e.g. Xi’an,
Nuclear-Certified ~ 12 x DF-31A (11,000 km range), Chongqing).
Forces ~ 6-12 DF-31 (7,000 km range) that can reach all
Indian mainland targets. ~ 51 nuclear-certified aircraft with gravity bombs
and ~8 Agni-II launchers able to reach Tibet.
~ 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.

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | March 2020 7