India is believed to possess an arsenal of nuclear weapons and maintains intermediate-range ballistic missiles, long range strategic bombers, ships and cruise missile submarines to deliver them. Although it lacks ballistic missile submarines India has ambitions of becoming a Nuclear triad country in the near future (Possibly before 2010). Though India has not made any official statements about the size of its nuclear arsenal, estimates suggest that India has between 40 and 95 nuclear weapons, consistent with estimates that it has produced enough weapons-grade plutonium for up to 110 nuclear weapons. Weapons-grade plutonium production is believed to be taking place at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, which is home to the CIRUS reactor acquired from Canada, to the indigenous Dhruva reactor, and to a plutonium separation facility. In addition, India is estimated to have separated enough reactor-grade plutonium to manufacture up to 1000 nuclear weapons, if it chose to do so.
According to a January 2001 U.S Department of Defense report, "India probably has a small stockpile of nuclear weapon components and could assemble and deploy a few nuclear weapons within a few days to a week." A 2001 RAND study by Ashley Tellis asserts that India does not seek to deploy a ready nuclear arsenal.
According to a report in Jane's Intelligence Review, India's objective is to have a nuclear arsenal that is "strategically active but operationally dormant", which would allow India to maintain its retaliatory capability "within a matter of hours to weeks, while simultaneously exhibiting restraint." However, the report also maintains that, in the future, India may face increasing institutional pressure to shift its nuclear arsenal to a fully deployed status.
Brief Historical Overview:
Agni II was India's first long range missile
As early as June 26, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, soon to be India's first Prime Minister, announced:
| “ | As long as the world is constituted as it is, every country will have to devise and use the latest devices for its protection. I have no doubt India will develop her scientific researches and I hope Indian scientists will use the atomic force for constructive purposes. But if India is threatened, she will inevitably try to defend herself by all means at her disposal. | ” |
India's first Nuclear test occurred on 18 May 1974. Since then India has conducted another series of test at the Pokhran test range in the state of Rajasthan in 1998. India has an extensive civil and military nuclear program, which includes at least 10 nuclear reactors, uranium mining and milling sites, heavy water production facilities, a uranium enrichment plant, fuel fabrication facilities, and extensive nuclear research capabilities.
Current Arsenal and Estimates of Force Inventory:
- It is widely estimated that India currently has approximately 200 warheads. It is known that about 75% of its warheads are assembled and the rest are in a sub-assembled position, and the number is expected to grow in time.
- David Albright's report published by Institute for Science and International Security on 2000 estimates that India at end of 1999 had 310 kilograms of weapon grade plutonium which is enough for 65 nuclear weapons. He also estimates that India has 4200 kg of reactor grade unsafeguarded plutonium which is enough to build 1000 nuclear weapons. By the end of 2004, he estimates India had 445 kilograms of weapon grade plutonium which is enough for around 85 nuclear weapons considering 5 kg of plutonium required for each weapon
- Former RAW official J.K. Sinha claimed that India has capability to produce 130 kilograms of weapon grade plutonium from six unsafeguarded reactors not included in nuclear deal between India and United States.
Doctrine:
India has a declared nuclear no-first-use policy and is in the process of developing a nuclear doctrine based on "credible minimum deterrence." In August 1999, the Indian government released a draft of the asserts that nuclear weapons are solely for deterrence and that India will pursue a policy of "retaliation only." The document also maintains that India "will not be the first to initiate a nuclear first strike, but will respond with punitive retaliation should deterrence fail" and that decisions to authorize the use of nuclear weapons would be made by the Prime Minister or his 'designated successor(s).'"
According to the NRDC, despite the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan in 2001-2002, India remains committed to its nuclear no-first-use policy. But an Indian foreign ministry official told Defense News in 2000 that a "'no-first-use' policy does not mean India will not have a first-strike capability."
Command and Control:
India's Strategic Nuclear Command was formally established in 2003, with an Air Force officer, Air Marshall Asthana, as the Commander-in-Chief. The joint services SNC is the custodian of all of India's nuclear weapons, missiles and assets. It is also responsible for executing all aspects of India's nuclear policy. However, the civil leadership, in the form of the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) is the only body authorized to order a nuclear strike against another offending strike: In effect, it is the Prime Minister who has his finger "on the button".
International Treaties:
The Thermonuclear device used in the Pokran Test. There were numerous sanctions after the tests
India is not a signatory to either the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), but did accede to the Partial Test Ban Treaty in October 1963. India is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and four of its 13 nuclear reactors are subject to IAEA safeguards.
India announced its lack of intention to accede to the NPT as late as 1997 by voting against the paragraph of a General Assembly Resolution which urged all non-signatories of the treaty to accede to it at the earliest possible date.
India voted against the UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the CTBT, which was adopted on September 10, 1996. India objected to the lack of provision for universal nuclear disarmament "within a time-bound framework." India also demanded that the treaty ban laboratory simulations. In addition, India opposed the provision in Article XIV of the CTBT that requires India's ratification for the treaty to enter into force, which India argued was a violation of its sovereign right to choose whether it would sign the treaty. In early February 1997, Foreign Minister Gujral reiterated India's opposition to the treaty, saying that "India favors any step aimed at destroying nuclear weapons, but considers that the treaty in its current form is not comprehensive and bans only certain types of tests."
Controversially the United States is now willing to provide India access to civilian nuclear technology through the 2006 United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act, despite India not being a member of the NPT which normally precludes such international cooperation. This is the direct result of the fact that India is recognized by the US and many other developed regions of the world as an important ally in the war on terror and further testifies to the fact that the West believes that the nuclear technology is intended for peaceful purposes.
Delivery Systems:
Ballistic Missiles:
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 Dhanush ballistic missile launched from INS Subhadra, a modified patrol vessel. |
 Nuclear capable Agni-III missile can travel 5000Km with the normal 1000Kg payload |
 The Shaurya Missile is India's main second strike missile |
 Sagarika submarine launched ballistic missile |
Under former president Dr. Abdul Kalam India pursued the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) which was an Indian Ministry of Defence program for the development of a comprehensive range of missiles, including the intermediate range Agni missile (Surface to Surface), and short range missiles such as the Prithvi ballistic missile (Surface to Surface), Akash missile (Surface to Air), Trishul missile (Surface to Air) and Nag Missile (Anti Tank). Other projects such Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program have derived from the IGMDP. In 2005, India became only the fourth country to have Anti Ballistic capability when India tested two systems the AAD and PAD.
India has methodically built an indigenous missile production capability, using its commercial space-launch program to develop the skills and infrastructure needed to support an offensive ballistic missile program. For example, during the 1980s, India conducted a series of space launches using the solid-fueled SLV-3 booster. Most of these launches put light satellites into near-earth orbit. Elements of the SLV-3 were subsequently incorporated into two new programs. In the first, the new polar-space launch vehicle (PSLV) was equipped with six SLV-3 motors strapped to the PSLV's first stage. The Agni IRBM technology demonstrator uses the SLV-3 booster as its first stage.
The Prithvi I is mobile liquid-fueled 150 kilometer tactical missile currently deployed with army units. It is claimed that this missile is equipped only with various conventional warheads (which stay attached to the missile over the entire flight path). The missile is of particular interest to the United States (and potential buyers) in that has the capability of maneuvering in flight so as to follow one of several different preprogrammed trajectories. Based on the same design, a modified Prithvi, the Prithvi II, is essentially a longer-ranged version of the Prithvi I except that it has a 250-kilometer range and a lighter payload. It is suspected that any nuclear missions will be executed by the Prithvi II. Currently, the Prithvi II has completed development and is now in production. When fielded, it will be deployed with air force units for the purpose of deep target attacking manoeuvres against objectives such as air fields.
The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing 3 variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner.
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- Prithvi I - Army Version (150 km range with a payload of 1,000kg)
- Prithvi II - Air Force Version (250 km range with a payload of 500kg)
- Prithvi III - Naval Version (350 km range with a payload of 500kg)
Dhanush (in Sanskrit/Hindi means Bow) is a system consisting of a stabilization platform (Bow) and the Missile (Arrow). Dhanush is a System consisting of stabilization platform and missiles and can fire either the 250Km or the 350Km range missiles. Supposedly it is a customised version of the Prithvi and that the additional customizations in missile configuration is to certify it for sea worthiness. Dhanush has to be launched from a hydraulically stabilized launch pad. Its low range acts against it and thus it is seen a weapons either to be used to destroy an aircraft carrier or an enemy port. The missile has been tested from the the INS Rajput destroyer many times and there are also reports that it has been further customised in order to launch it from the Ballistic Missile submarine, ATV. For now the missile's 250 variant has been tested twice from the INS Subhadra and the 350Km variant has been tested from INS Rajput.
The Agni Missile system comprises of Agni I, Agni II and the Agni III 1500 Agni I uses the SLV-3 booster (from India's Space Program) for its first stage and a liquid-fueled Prithvi for its second stage. Agni I demonstrated that India could develop a maneuvering warhead that incorporated endo-atmospheric evasive maneuvers and terminal guidance in the reentry vehicle. India also developed the carbon-carbon composite materials needed for long-range missile components and reentry vehicle ablative coatings. On the other hand India's Agni II missiles have a range of the 1500 to 2500 kilometers. Unlike the Agni I, the Agni II has a solid-fueled second stage. India has also tested the Agni III IRBM with a range between 3000 and 5500km kilometres which has two stages. With a normal payload of 1000kg it can travel 5000km.[15]. It is clear that one of the major constraints for this program is the lack of a proven nuclear warhead. India claims to have developed its own thermonuclear design which was tested in the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and yielded 45 KT. DRDO is also working on a Submarine Launched Version of the Agni-III missile,Agni IIISL which will provide India with a credible sea based second strike capability. Agni IIISL is to be integrated into the Indian nuclear submarine Advanced Technology Vessel capable of a range of 3500 Kilometer. In addition Agni V is due to be tested in 2010 and promises to be an ICBM and a huge leap for Indian technology. It is believed that India already has the means of developing an ICBM as it has sent probes into the Moon and launched satellites for other countries like Israel. It is widely believed that it has not tested such a missile due to international pressure especially from the west.
The Surya ICBM is an ICBM program that has been discussed repeatedly in the Indian press but is still to be tested. Surya (meaning The Sun in Sanskrit and Many Indian Languages) is the codename for the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that India is reported to be developing. The DRDO is believed to have begun the project in 1994. Officials of the Indian government have repeatedly denied the existence of the project. According to news reports, the Surya-1 is an intercontinental-range, surface-based, solid and liquid propellant ballistic missile. The Surya-1 and -2 will be classified as strategic weapons, extending the Indian nuclear deterrent force to targets around the world. India currently is limited by the range of the Agni-3 missile. The development of a true ICBM would make strikes against almost any strategic target around the world possible and reduce India’s relative weakness. This would develop a credible global deterrent for India. The Surya-1 will have an expected range of 6000 - 10,000 km. It reportedly has a length of 40 m and a launch weight of 80,000 kg (some reports indicate as much as 275,000 kg. As the missile has yet to be developed, the payload and warhead are as yet unknown. It is believed to be a three-stage design, with the first two stages using solid propellants and the third-stage using liquid. The first test flight is expected in 2009, but there may be delays. The Surya-2 is a longer-ranged variant of the Surya-1. It has a reported range of 20,000 km.
The Shaurya missile is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India for use by the Indian Army.It has a range of 600 km and is capable of carrying a payload of one-tonne conventional or nuclear warhead.The Shaurya missile provides India with a significant second strike capability. Shaurya Missile is considered a land version of the Sagarika. This missile is stored in a composite canister just like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. The composite canister makes the missile much easier to store for long periods without maintenance as well as to handle and transport. It also houses the gas generator to eject the missile from the canister before its solid propellant motors take over to hurl it at the intended target. Shaurya missiles can remain hidden or camouflaged in underground silos from enemy surveillance or satellites till they are fired from the special storage-cum-launch canisters.DRDO Defence scientists admit that given Shaurya's limited range at present, either the silos will have to be constructed closer to India's borders or longer-range canisterised missiles will have to be developed.The Shaurya system will require some more tests before it becomes fully operational in two-three years. Moreover, defence scientists say the high-speed, two-stage Shaurya has high manoeuvrability which also makes it less vulnerable to existing anti-missile defence systems.. When Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems AAD and PAD are to be tested again, the Shaurya inculneability to anti-missiel systems will be tested. The DRDO scientists also have said that if Shaurya is successful and manages to avoid anti ballistic missile radars then the missile can even be used to improve the AAD and PAD systems
Sagarika is a nuclear capable submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 750 km. This missile has a length of 8.5 meters, weighs seven tonnes and can carry a pay load of up to 500 kg. The development of this missile started in 1991. The first confirmation about the missile came in 1998 development of the underwater missile launcher know as the Project 78 (P78) was completed in 2001. This was handed over to the Indian Navy for trials. The missile was successfully test fired thrice. The Indian Navy plans to induct the missile into service soon. The missile is likely to arm the nuclear submarine which is expected to be launched in 2008, but delayed. Sagarika will form part of the triad in India's nuclear deterrence and will provide with retaliatory nuclear strike capability.
Sagarika has already been test-fired from a underwater pontoon, but now DRDO is planning a full-fledged test of the missile from a submarine and for this purpose may use the services of a Russian sub-marine.
Cruise Missiles:
 BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a speed of 2.8 Mach |
 Unlike the BrahMos, the Nirbhay is to primarily act as a nuclear strike cruise missile |
 Around 200 Nuclear Capable Klub missile were bought by India |
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 Supposedly, India has a small number of Moskit supersonic nuclear capable cruise missile |
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. The acronym BrahMos is perceived as the confluence of the two nations represented by two great rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. It is a joint venture between India's Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed the BrahMos Corp. BrahMos is the world's first and only supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from both vertical and inclined positions from naval platforms.Propulsion is based on the Russian Yakhont missile, and guidance has been developed by BrahMos Corp. At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, it is the world's fastest cruise missile. At about three and a half times faster than the American subsonic Harpoon cruise missile. There are 6 variants of the BrahMos- ship-to-ship, land-to-land, land-to-ship, ship-to-land, air-to-ship and ship-to-air.. DRDO also has launched the underwater version. Which is in use by 6 navy submarines of the Sindhugosh Class. In 2008 a 5.26 Mach version known as the BrahMos Hypersonic was lab tested. . DRDO also confirmed that for the time being India and Russia were only pursuing the hypersonic missile and that the long range BrahMos II will begin development only after the Nirbhay is tested in 2009 so that Russia can participate too without violating the MTCR. BrahMos Hypersonic is the first hypersonic cruise missile in the world and is expected to be ready by 2012-2013. DRDO scientists also said that unlike the BrahMos 1 which is only being used by India. The Russian forces have shown keen interest in the BrahMos Hypersonic.
Nirbhay is a long range, subsonic cruise missile being developed in India. The missile will have a range of 1000 km and will arm three services, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. The Nirbhay will be able to be launched from multiple platforms on land, sea and air. The first test flight of the missile is expected in the year 2009. Nirbhay will be a terrain hugging, stealth missile of delivering 24 different types of warheads depending on mission requirements and will use inertial navigation system for guidance.. There are plans to arm the IL-76MDs with the aerial version of the missile.
India has acquired around 200 3M-54 Klub for arming Talwar class frigate, Shivalik class frigate, Kolkata class destroyer and Sindhughosh class submarine[33]. The Russian 3M-54 Klub is a multi-role missile system developed by the Novator Design Bureau(OKB-8) with a range of 250Km-300Km and a average speed of .8 Mach with a maximum of 2.9 Mach. India has both the Klub-N and Klub-S variant to be used for Ships and Submarines respectively. . Both the Klub-N and Klub-S have been tested successfully.India currently has the 3M-54E, 3M-54E1, 91RE1 and 91RE2 variants. In addition the Navy has plans to arm the Tu-142 and Tu-22M with the an air-launched version. Due to Klub's longer range than BrahMos it may also be used in the Mirage 2000 and Su-29 too. The Navy has shown interest in buying more Klubs which would be incorporated on to the S-1000 submarine if bought by India. India is also keen on other Former Soviet cruise missile such as the P-700 Granit and P-500 Bazalt.
Supposedly India imported a number of Israel's Rafael made Popeye Missile in late 1999. Popeye II, an air launched cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads with a range of 80 Km can be launched from planes was given to India along with missile defence radars in a deal. At that time the US was vary of this due to its close relations with Pakistan. But due to recent military and strategic dealings between the Israel, India and the US, it is thought that the US has little or no objection now. However even to this day, despite close relations, Israel and India have denied that India has been given the Popeye II. The exact number transferred to India is unknown, but possibly 20 missile to perhaps 50 missiles could have been given with possibly more being built in India. It is still not known which planes are armed with these missiles but it is thought to be the Tu-142 and Sukhoi Su-30MKI, which incorporate some Israeli technology. The Popeye which at that time was India's only air launched cruise missile, could have been used to develop the aerial version of the BrahMos and the latest Nirbhay.
India has Soviet P-70 Ametist submarine-launched cruise missiles. The missile were mostly probably bought in the early 90s and may be used today as canistered launched land based cruise missiles instead of submarine launched cruise missiles. The missiles can carry nuclear warheads and have a range of 50-65Km. Although they are extremely old and incompetent due to their low range and speed, there are still reports that they are kept in reserve and can still be used due to their upgrades in the late 90s. .
There are reports that India has a small number of operational Moskits. The P-270 Moskit is a Russian supersonic ramjet powered cruise missile capable of being launched from land and ships. India has most probably bought both land and ship variants which have a range of 120km. It was reported that the Chinese version had a greater range and was faster than the one India had acquired. As a result in 2008 India bought around 200 Klub missiles and now it is believed that the Moskit have been kept in reserve but can still be used.
Delivery Mechanisms:
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 INS Ranvir is armed with the vertically launched BrahMos |
 INS Ranvijay is armed with the inclined launched BrahMos |
 Indian Navy Tu-142 and IL-38SD are long range strategic bombers |
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 The Hal Tejas would become India's only indeginous plane to be armed with nuclear weapons |
Nuclear Submarines:
According to some accounts India plans to have as many as 20 nuclear submarines capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads. Currently, India is building 3 ballistic nuclear submarines under the Advanced Technology Vessel plan. The first of which is to be unveiled on 26th January, 2009. Once the vessel is completed, it can be equipped with nuclear capable 6-8 Dhanush,Sagarika or Agni SLBM ballistic missiles and upto 12 BrahMos cruise missiles. India currently maintains 6 submarines of the Sindhughosh Class that can launch the nuclear capable Brahmos and 3M-54 Klub cruise missiles.
In 1988 INS Chakra, a Charlie-class submarine was leased by the Indian Navy for three years from the Soviet Union, until 1991. The submarine was leased to India between 1988 and 1991 mainly for India to gain experience in the operations of a nuclear submarine. It was later decommissioned in 1991.
The Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) is a Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine being constructed for the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, India. The ATV is an SSBN and will be armed with the ballistic missiles. Once it is completed, it can be equipped with 6-8 nuclear capable Dhanush,Sagarika or Agni SLBM ballistic missiles and upto 12 BrahMos cruise missiles. It is also to be fitted with an advanced sonar system. The second and third submarines of the class may incorporate the Nirbhay as well. As of July 2007, the Sagarika missile as well as Dhanush had undergone three successful tests each. The ATV is to be unveiled on January 26, 2009 but trials will start later that year while induction is planned for 2010.
The INS Sindhuraj, INS Sindhuvir, INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhushastra, INS Sindhukesari and INS Sindhuvijay are capable of launching 3M-54 Klub and BrahMos nuclear-capable cruise missiles.. India bought 10 Kilo class (in India known as Sindhughosh Class) submarine of which 6 have been refitted by the Russian Navy so that the they can launch cruise missiles such as nuclear capable BrahMos and 3M-54 Klub's 3M-14E variant. The Submarine version of the BrahMos has been tested from static, underwater test stands in Russia and from the INS Sindhuvijay. As the Sinduvijay is similar to the other refitted submarines the test is considered a success.
In 2000, negotiations between India and Russia were conducted into the leasing of two incomplete Akula class. The Akulas were to be delivered to the Indian Navy in 2008 on a lease of at least seven years and up to ten years, in which at the end of the lease, it has an option to buy them. The acquisition was to help the Indian Navy prepare for the induction of the ATV. The cost to India of acquiring two Akula submarines and their support infrastructure along with training of the crews had been estimated at $2 billion.. The Indian version was reportedly armed with the 300 km range 3M-54 Klub nuclear-capable missiles.. Supposedly on 9 November, 2008 one of the two submarines was doing tests, when an accident on board killed 20 sailors but the no damage happened to the submarine. Though this deal fell apart for some time Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev on his official trip to India said that the deal was back on tract and that "The talk is not about selling submarines into India's property, but about their rent by India's navy". , Unlike the earlier deal the modified deal states that India can only rent and not buy the subs. The first submarine will be named INS Chakra.. Russia has also offered the advanced Amur Class Submarine, known as the S1000. According to GlobalSecurity India is already building the S1000 cruise missile submarines in Mazagaon Docks. [48] The Amur will be most probably fitted with P-700 Granit or the Klub cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Frigates, Destroyers and Aircraft Carriers:
Other than submarines, India also maintains ships such as destroyers, modified patrol crafts and frigates which can launch nuclear capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
Talwar class frigate and Shivalik class frigate are frigates of the Indian Navy that can fire nuclear capable cruise missiles. INS Tabar and INS Trishul are Talwar class vessel armed with supersonic nuclear BrahMos and 3M-54 Klub cruise missiles while INS Shivalik was the first vessel of the Shivalik class to incorporate the BrahMos. Other vessels of the Shivalik Class and Talwar Class are to be armed with the BrahMos and 3M-54 Klub missile by 2009 and 2010 respectively. All these frigates are also equipped with Barak missiles or other SAMs and harbour helicopters such as the HAL Dhruv. In 2007, the navy promised to arm the Godavari class frigates and Brahmaputra class frigates with the BrahMos too.
Rajput class destroyers are Destroyers of the Indian Navy that can fire nuclear capable missiles. The INS Rajput, INS Ranvir (D54) [50] and INS Ranvijay (D55) which are modified versions of Soviet Kashin class destroyers have been fitted with BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile systems. The new class of destroyers namely Kolkata Class are also to be fitted with the BrahMos and there are plans to arm the rest of the vessels of the Rajput Class with BrahMos. While the Delhi class destroyers are to be modified to incorporate the BrahMos too. The first of the Kolkata Class should roll out in 2012 while the Delhi Class and Rajput will be armed with the Brahmos by 2009[52] In addition the latter Kolkata Class will incorporate the Russian nuclear 3M-54 Klub cruise missile.[53]
The Navy also has plans to fit the Khukri class corvettes and the Tarantul class corvettes with the BrahMos by 2010. India currently operates 13 Tarantul Corvettes and 4 Khukri Corvettes.
The ship launched Dhanush Ballistic Missile was tested from INS Subhadra of the Sukanya class patrol craft in 2000. INS Subhadra is a patrol vessel which was modified and the missile was launched from the reinforced helicopter deck. The 250Km variant was tested but the tests were considered partially successful.[54] In 2004, the missile was again tested from the INS Subhadra and was this time successful.[55] Then the following year in December the missile's 350Km version was tested from the INS Rajput and hit the land based target. [56].
INS Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier (formerly known as Admiral Gorskhov) was fitted with P-500 Bazalt nuclear capable cruise missiles of the range of 550Km. [57] The Vikramaditya could still be armed with this after its refit. India is also a potential customer for a Slava class cruiser which also incorporates the P-500 Bazalt
[edit] Nuclear Aircraft
India currently has 17 long range strategic nuclear bombers and 116, 4.5 generation fighter jets capable to lauch nuclear weapons. Nuclear Aircraft are also seen as a less expensive way of dropping nuclear warheads as well as being as effective.
India is only 1 of the 4 countries that still maintains nuclear strategic bombers. Others countries are Russia, China and the United States.[58] India has 8 Tu-95 Bear in their naval format known as Tupolev Tu-142 which were bought intended to drop nuclear weapons. In Russia the plane is considered one of their top maritime bombers. In 2001, India and Russia signed a 1.9 billion pound deal in which 4 Tupolev Tu-22 M3 long-range aircrafts, which are capable of delivering nuclear bombs, were leased to India. The Tupolev Tu-22M (NATO reporting name "Backfire") is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union. They currently serve the Indian Navy and are used regularly for maritime reconnaissance and strike purposes in the India Ocean. India also has 8 Il-38 maritime patrol bombers. There are reports of efforts towards adding the capability to fire the Indo-Russian Brahmos cruise missile from this aircraft. Mockups have been displayed with air-launched Brahmos attached to underwing pylons on the Indian Navy aircraft. The Il-38 s of the Indian Navy had been sent back to Russia for upgrades and Three aircrafts were delivered back to the Indian Navy .[59] The new version is designated as Il-38 SD. They incorporate the new Sea Dragon avionic suite. There are also reports that the 1000km range Nirbhay Cruise missile's Aerial version will be fitted onto the 32 IL-76MDs which are the military versions of the IL-76 series.[60] After developing and inducting the Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft, India has plans to modify some of the aircrafts so that they can be used as strategic bombers.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI [61] , Dassault Mirage 2000 [62], Mig-29[63] and HAL Tejas serve in the Indian Air Force and are also seen as a means to deliver nuclear weapons. In addition India maintains Jaguar and Mig-27M which can be used to drop gravity bombs. [64] However, these planes would be considered useless in the 21st century as gravity bombs have little chance of accomplishing a task. On the other hand, the SU 30MKI, capable of carrying nuclear weapons and tailor-made for Indian specifications, integrates Indian systems and avionics.[65] It also consists of French and Israeli subsystems.[66] The MKI variant features several improvements over the basic K and MK variants and is classified as a 4.5 generation fighter.[67][68] Due to similar features and components, the MKI variant is often considered to be a customized Indian variant of the Sukhoi Su-35. The Mirage 2000Hs were heavily customised, during the Kargil War and is the only other version, other than the French 2000N to be able to be armed with nuclear weapons. However, the air force doesn't really see the Mirage as a nuclear strike aircraft. Though Mig-29 like the the HAL Tejas after many test flights hasn't been tested to use nuclear weapons They have the capacity to be armed with them. The naval format of Tejas too is supposed to be armed with nuclear weapons. When Tejas is inducted into the Indian Air Force and the air arm of the Indian Navy there are plans to have as many 250 of them. In addition the INS Vikramaditya along with the Mig-29K would make it easier for India's naval jets to attack targets. Both the Tejas and SU-30MKI can travel an access of 3000km without refueling, this allows India to attack targets far away in an effective manner only using planes rather than delivery systems such as the Agni. The Hal Tejas would become India's only indeginous plane to be armed with nuclear weapons, thus making India less dependent on Russia. In years to come, MCA along with other new additions like the PAK-FA or the FGFA would incorporate the air force versions of BhrahMos and Nirbhay cruise missiles.
[edit] Foreign assistance
- With the exception of sourcing plutonium from the CIRRUS class reactor for the 1974 nuclear weapons test, India's nuclear program has been almost entirely developed without foreign assistance, due mainly to a total nuclear and missile technology embargo and severe sanctions regime imposed on India after it conducted the 1974 nuclear explosion at Pokhran. A fact recognized by the United States during state department briefings on the current United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act to the US Congress. According US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, "[India] has a 30-year record of responsible behavior on nonproliferation matters."[69] Non-proliferation applies to both the export and import of nuclear weapons technology, clearly a reference to the independent and conservative nature of the Indian Nuclear Weapons program.
[edit] Chemical Weapons
India has an advanced commercial chemical industry, and produces the bulk of its own chemicals for domestic consumption. It is also widely acknowledged that India has an extensive civilian chemical and pharmaceutical industry and annually exports considerable quantities of chemicals to countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Taiwan.
In 1992 India signed the Chemical Weapons Convention(CWC), stating that it did not have chemical weapons and the capacity or capability to manufacture chemical weapons. By doing this India became one of the original signatories of the Chemical Weapons Convention [CWC] in 1993, and ratified it on 2 September 1996. According to India's ex-Army Chief General Sunderji, a country having the capability of making nuclear weapons does not need to have chemical weapons, since the dread of chemical weapons could be created only in those countries that do not have nuclear weapons. Others suggested that the fact that India has found chemical weapons dispensable highlighted its confidence in the conventional weapons system at its command. According to one published report, India's stockpile of chemical weapons consists of mustard gas shells left by the British of World War II vintage. These shells, fired from a 25 pounder gun, are said to be in storage and not under the operational control of the Indian Army. India is also reported to have manufacturing facilities for production of agents in small quantities. However, India does have a defensive Chemical Weapons program, overseen by the Ministry of Defense. Various facilities and laboratories across the country are involved in research that could be applicable to a covert CW program.
On 25 June 1997, the Indian government stated that "India will disclose to Pakistan stocks of its chemical weapons". The decision was taken to make a unilateral disclosure on the instruction of Prime Minister I.K. Gujral. However, Chinese defense researchers have claimed that India possesses 1,000 tons of chemical warfare agents, which are located at five chemical weapons production and storage facilities. It is indicated that these agents include mainly mustard and there are several possible delivery munitions. But CWC has said that India is one of the most CWC obiding countries in the world as India is currently in the final stages of destroying these weapons. The most recent public update on progress came on 28 January 2008 when the Indian government announced that it had succeeded in destroying 93 percent of its Category 1 stockpile. On the basis of current schedules India will be the third nation to completely and verifiably destroy all of its chemical weapons and associated facilities. Nevertheless, the sophistication of India's domestic chemical industry would allow it to rapidly reconstitute a significant chemical weapons capability, if it chose to do so.
Biological Warfare:
India has a well-developed biotechnology infrastructure that includes numerous pharmaceutical production facilities bio-containment laboratories (including BSL-3 and BSL-4) for working with lethal pathogens. It also has highly qualified scientists with expertise in infectious diseases. Some of India’s facilities are being used to support research and development for BW defense purposes. India has ratified the BWC and pledges to abide by its obligations. There is no clear evidence, circumstantial or otherwise, that directly points toward an offensive BW program. New Delhi does possess the scientific capability and infrastructure to launch an offensive BW program, but has not chosen to do so. In terms of delivery, India also possesses the capability to produce aerosols and has numerous potential delivery systems ranging from crop dusters to sophisticated ballistic missiles.
In 2001, After Indian Postal Services received 17 “suspicious” letters believed to contain Bacillus anthracis spores.A Bio-Safety Level 2 (BSL-2) Laboratory was established to provide guidance in preparing the Indian government for a biological attack. B. anthracis is one of many pathogens studied at the institute, which also examines pathogens causing tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis B, rabies, yellow fever, Lassa fever, Ebola, and plague Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) at Gwalior is the primary establishment for studies in toxicology and biochemical pharmacology and development of antibodies against several bacterial and viral agents. Work is in progress to prepare responses to threats like Anthrax, Brucellosis, cholera and plague, viral threats like smallpox and viral haemorrhage fever and biotoxic threats like botulism. Most of the information is classified. Researchers have developed chemical/biological protective gear, including masks, suits, detectors and suitable drugs. India has a 'no first use' policy.
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