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MARCH 2020

The Strategic Postures of and : 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 52nd Mountain HQ Infantry Brigade ~ 4,600 (total) Link District (MD)

Unit 77675, 52nd Mountain Infantry MD Infantry Battalion ~ 700 Link Brigade

Unit 77678, 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 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 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 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 ~ 40,000

Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location Command

6th Mechanized Infantry 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 , 77th 76th Group Army 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: ~ 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 ,~ T-72 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 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 ~ 15,500

Icon Name Parent Force Type Force Numbers Location Command

Army Eastern Mechanized Infantry 17th Mountain Strike ~ 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 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 Bangda Airfield Command

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 (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 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 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 ALG N/A Link Command

Western Air Parma Valley ALG N/A Link Command

Western Air ALG N/A Link Command

Western Air 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 AFS Link Command #8 Sq. Su-30MKI/MKI-3, #24 Sq. Su-30MKI-3

~ 17 nuclear-certified (Mirage) fighters, ~9 fighters Gwalior/ Central Air Link #1 Sq., #7 Sq., & #9 Sq. Mirage 2000H/TH. Half Maharajpur AFS Command squadron (TACDE) of MiG-21Bisons, MiG-27MUs, & SU-30MKIs

Central Air ~ 34 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft 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 AFS Link Command #2 Sq. SU-30MKI/MKI3, #106 Sq. Su-30MKI-3

Eastern Air ~ 17 fighters Chabua AFS Link Command #102 Sq. Su-30MKI-3

Jalpaguiri/ Eastern Air ~ 34 fighters Link Hashimara AFS Command #22 Sq. & #222 Sq. MiG-27M

Eastern Air ALG N/A Link Command

Eastern Air ALG N/A Link Command

Eastern Air Along ALG N/A Link Command

Eastern Air ALG (Helipad) N/A Link Command

Eastern Air ALG N/A Link Command

Eastern Air ALG N/A Link Command

Eastern Air ALG N/A Link Command

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

Tianshui Brigade, With Strike Range Filter rd ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) 53 Base No Filter

Beidao/Tawanli Brigade, With Strike Range Filter th ~ 12 x DF-31A (11,000 km range) 56 Base No Filter

With Strike Range Filter No Filter Xining Brigade, ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) / 56th (Unable to determine exact missile Base DF-31 (7,000 km range) locations, so location of 56th Base HQ utilized)

Datong Brigade, With Strike Range Filter th ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) 56 Base No Filter

Liuqingkou Brigade, With Strike Range Filter th ~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) 56 Base No Filter

~ 12 x DF-21 (2,150 km range) / DF-31 (7,000 km Delingha Brigade, range). With Strike Range Filter th 56 Base No Filter DF-21C (2,150km range) conventional missiles.

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

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

> 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 .

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 -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 in , the Agni-III missiles are estimated by the authors to be based in the same area. As illustrated on the map, this location is optimal for Agni-III missiles to reach all significant mainland targets in China and . 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 Ambala AFS carry gravity bombs, With Strike Range Filter #5 Sq. & #14 Sq. Jaguar IS

~ 17 nuclear-certified fighters to carry gravity Gwalior/ bombs, With Strike Range Filter (Dark Blue Circle) Maharajpur AFS #1 Sq., #7 Sq., & #9 Sq. Mirage 2000H/TH.

~ 17 nuclear-certified ground attack aircraft to Gorakhpur AFS carry gravity bombs, 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 Brigade (Possible General Brigade Sites) (No Strike Range Circle) ~ 8 -II (250 km range) missile 444 Missile Group launchers total On Strike Range Map Brigade (No Strike Range Circle)

444 Missile Group On Strike Range Map Brigade (No Strike Range Circle)

~ 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, ). 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 .

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