Kargil Vijay Diwas 2025: List of Indian Army weapons used in 1999 conflict
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An Indian soldier pays tributes on the occasion of 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' at the War Memorial in Chennai Photograph: (AFP)
This year (2025) marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. The day is observed to honour the courage, sacrifice and commitment of Indian soldiers who defended the nation during the Kargil conflict.
The Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year in India on July 26 to honor the bravery of Indian soldiers who recaptured the mountain peaks in Kargil that were taken over by Pakistani forces in 1999. The Pakistani soldiers had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and disguised as militants, leading to a serious conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations (India and Pakistan). In retaliation, India launched a full-scale military operation to drive them out. The war took place at very high altitudes and both sides suffered heavy losses. In the end, India successfully regained all the captured territory. The war involved different types of warfare, including mountain battles, traditional ground fighting and air strikes.
Some of the important weapons and equipment used during the Kargil War are:
- Small Arms (rifles): Small arms are the basic weapons like rifles and machine guns which were used by soldiers in close fights. Examples include, SAF Carbine and AK-47.
- Artillery: Big guns such as Bofors FH-77B Howitzer and mortars were used to hit enemy targets from a distance.
- Tanks: These are the armoured vehicles, which provide heavy fire support during attacks. Example - T-72 Tanks
- Helicopters: These helicopters are used for the movement of troops, helped in spying and to provide support to troops on ground from the air.
- Fighter Jets: Both India and Pakistan used fighter jets in the sky, including MiG-21, MiG-29, Mirage 2000 (India) and F-16 (Pakistan).
- UAVs (Drones): These drones are mainly used for watching enemy movements and gathering intelligence.
- Anti-Aircraft Guns: These guns are mainly used to shoot down enemy planes.
Key weapons used by India during Kargil War
- Bofors FH-77B Howitzer
A 155 mm gun made in Sweden, popularly known in India as the Bofors gun. It was used for long-range shelling of enemy posts in the mountains. - MiG-27 (Bahadur) and MiG-29
A Soviet-designed fighter jets, used mainly for ground attacks. These jets are also used for air combat and guarding Indian skies. - Mirage 2000H
A French-built fighter jet used by the Indian Air Force during the Kargil War. These jets played a key role in bombing enemy bunkers in the Kargil sector with precision. - Laser-Guided Bombs (LGBs)
Laser-Guided Bombs are the special bombs guided by laser to accurately hit targets. These helped to destroy enemy positions with great precision during the war. - Grenade Launchers
These launchers were used by Indian soldiers to launch grenades at the enemy bunkers from a distance. - INSAS, SAF Carbine and AK-47
INSAS: A set of rifles and light machine guns made in India for infantry use.
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SAF Carbine: A small and lightweight gun known for its accurate accuracy.
AK-47: A powerful automatic rifle originally made in the Soviet Union was also used during the war.
26 years of courage and sacrifice
This year marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. The day is celebrated to remember the bravery, sacrifice and dedication of Indian soldiers who fought to protect the country’s borders.
