🇬🇧
United Kingdom vs India Military Ranks
The British Army has 19 ranks — 12 officer and 7 enlisted — from Private up to Field marshal. Below: all 78 ranks across 4 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines), aligned tier by tier with their Indian equivalents.
Branches
4
Ranks documented
78
Active personnel
144K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Field marshal
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Field marshal
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Lieutenant-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer | Officer cadet |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Subedar Major
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Subedar
|
Staff
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Naib Subedar
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Havildar
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Naik
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance Naik
|
| Private | OR-2 Private | – |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 18 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral of the Fleet
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Admiral of the fleet
|
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Vice admiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice Admiral
|
Rear admiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear Admiral
|
Commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Commodore
|
Captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Lieutenant commander
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Sub lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub-lieutenant
|
Midshipman
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub-lieutenant
|
Officer Cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Master chief petty officer 1st class
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Master chief petty officer 2nd class
|
Chief petty officer
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Petty officer
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant | – |
Leading rate
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer
|
Able rate
|
OR-2 Private | Ordinary seaman |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 21 of 22 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marshal of the RAF
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Marshal of the Indian Air Force
|
Air chief marshal
|
OF-9 General |
Air chief marshal
|
Air marshal
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Air marshal
|
Air vice-marshal
|
OF-7 Major General |
Air vice marshal
|
Air commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Air commodore
|
Group captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Group captain
|
Wing commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Wing commander
|
Squadron leader
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Squadron leader
|
Flight lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Flight lieutenant
|
Flying officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
|
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Flight cadet
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Master warrant officer
|
Flight sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Junior warrant officer
|
Chief technician
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Junior warrant officer
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Corporal
|
Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class | – |
Air specialist (class 1) technician
|
OR-2 Private |
Leading aircraftsman
|
Air specialist (class 1)
|
OR-2 Private |
Leading aircraftsman
|
Air specialist (class 2)
|
OR-2 Private |
Leading aircraftsman
|
| Air recruit | OR-1 Private | Aircraftsman |
Marines
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Marines | NATO code |
Equivalent in
India has no Marines — equivalents from its Army.
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Captain General Royal Marines
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Field marshal
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Lieutenant-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer | Officer cadet |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Subedar Major
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Subedar
|
Colour sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Naib Subedar
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Havildar
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Naik
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance Naik
|
| Marine | OR-2 Private | – |
Overview
The armed forces of the United Kingdom, collectively known as the "British Armed Forces," comprise several branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- British Army: The British Army is the land-based military branch responsible for ground operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. The Army plays a vital role in both national defense and international peacekeeping missions.
- Royal Navy: The Royal Navy is responsible for maritime defense and security. It operates a wide range of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, and surface ships, ensuring the protection of the UK's maritime interests.
- Royal Air Force (RAF): The Royal Air Force is responsible for aerial operations, with a diverse fleet of fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters. It plays a critical role in air defense and global mobility.
- Royal Marines: The Royal Marines are a specialized branch known for amphibious warfare and rapid response capabilities. They serve as the UK's elite naval infantry.
- British Special Forces: The UK has various elite special forces units, including the SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service), known for their covert and special operations expertise.
United Kingdom Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Sodacan — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Field marshal, General (Army), Lieutenant-general (Army), Major-general (Army), Brigadier (Army), Colonel (Army), Lieutenant colonel (Army), Major (Army), Captain (Army), Lieutenant (Army), Second lieutenant (Army), Officer cadet, Warrant officer class 1 (Army), Warrant officer class 2 (Army), Staff, Sergeant (Army), Corporal (Army), Lance corporal (Army), Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice admiral, Rear admiral, Warrant officer class 1 (Navy), Warrant officer class 2 (Navy), Chief petty officer, Petty officer, Leading rate, Able rate, Marshal of the RAF, Air chief marshal, Air marshal, Air vice-marshal, Air commodore, Group captain, Wing commander, Squadron leader, Flight lieutenant, Flying officer, Pilot officer / acting pilot officer, Flight sergeant, Chief technician, Sergeant (Air Force), Corporal (Air Force), Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only), Air specialist (class 1) technician, Air specialist (class 1), Air specialist (class 2), General (Marines), Lieutenant-general (Marines), Major-general (Marines), Brigadier (Marines), Colonel (Marines), Lieutenant colonel (Marines), Major (Marines), Captain (Marines), Lieutenant (Marines), Second lieutenant (Marines), Colour sergeant, Sergeant (Marines), Corporal (Marines), Lance corporal (Marines)
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant commander, Lieutenant, Sub lieutenant, Officer cadet (Air Force), Captain General Royal Marines, Officer cadet (Marines)
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Midshipman, Officer Cadet
- Cdjp1 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer, Warrant officer class 1
- Dgp4004 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer class 2