Pokhran II and Beyond (Emerging Indian Nuclear Posture)
Abstract
India started its nuclear research with the sole purpose of utilizing nuclear power for its technological and industrial growth However, despite her moral dilemmas and restraint demonstrated since her first test of a peaceful nuclear explosive (PNE) in 1974, a variety of factors led to India's two nuclear tests on May 1998, In the wake of these tests National Security Advisory Board of India issued a Draft Report on Indian Nuclear Doctrine, The draft doctrine suggests that India intends to develop and deploy nuclear weapons based on the triad of plations. The nuclear forces, however, are sought only to be minimum possible to credibly deter nuclear weapons use or coercion against India, Considering the imperatives of the Indian deterrence posture as per the draft doctrine, and the state of her weapons and missile program an estimate of the number and type of weapons and delivery systems has been made, The information used in arriving at the conclusion is from unclassified sources, A countervalue target set of top ten cities of a hypothetical country is selected, Assumptions have been made, using other such authoritative works, wherever specific data was not available due to its classified nature, Within these limitations, it was found that India needed to develop and deploy 165 nuclear weapons of 50 KT yield, 70 weapons of 20 KT yield, 200 Agni 2/3 missiles, and 35 Prithvi 2/3 missiles to achieve the deterrence posture sought in the draft nuclear doctrine.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA420597
Entities
People
- Jeetendra Mishra
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College