India’s nuclear strategy appears to place greater emphasis on China
As India continues to modernise its atomic arsenal and the country’s nuclear strategy which focused on Pakistan appears to place greater emphasis on China, two leading nuclear experts have said. An article printed in the issue of the electronic journal – After Midnight – has claimed that India is developing a missile which could target all of China from its foundations in South India.
“At least four more systems are in development. The development program is in a dynamic phase, with long-range land-and sea-based missiles emerging for possible deployment within the next decade…”
India is estimated to have produced enough plutonium for 150-200 nuclear warheads but has likely produced only 120-130, wrote Hans M Kristensen and Robert S Norris from the post Indian nuclear forces 2017. India’s nuclear strategy, which has traditionally focused on Pakistan, now appears to place greater emphasis on China, both experts claimed.
“While India has traditionally been focused on deterring Pakistan, its nuclear modernisation suggests it is putting increased emphasis on its future strategic relationship with China,” they wrote. “That adjustment will lead to significant new capabilities being deployed over the next decade which may influence how India views nuclear weapons’ role against Pakistan,” they said.
Noting that India continues to modernize its nuclear arsenal with the growth of new nuclear weapon systems, both experts estimate that New Delhi currently operates seven nuclear-capable systems: two aircraft, four land-based ballistic missiles, and one ballistic missile. “At least four more systems are in development. The development program is in a dynamic phase, with long-range land-and sea-based missiles emerging for possible deployment within the next decade,” it said.
India is estimated to have produced approximately 600 kilograms of weapon-grade plutonium, sufficient for warheads; however, not all the material was converted to nuclear warheads. Based on available information regarding its nuclear-capable shipping force, structure and strategy, we estimate that India has produced 120-130 nuclear warheads, the article said, adding that the nation will need more warheads to equip the missiles India is currently developing.
“The excess range will permit the Indian military to set up Agni-5 bases in central and southern India, further away from China”
Kristensen and Norris said that an improvement on the Agni-1, the two-stage, solid-fuel, rail-mobile Agni-2, which can deliver a nuclear or conventional warhead more than 2,000 kilometers is probably targeted on western, central, and southern China. Even though the Agni-4 will be capable of striking targets in almost all of China from northeastern India (including Beijing and Shanghai), India is also developing the longer-range Agni-5, a three-stage, solid-fuel, rail-mobile, near-intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a warhead more than 5,000 kilometres (3,100-plus miles), it said.
“The excess range will permit the Indian military to set up Agni-5 bases in central and southern India, further away from China,” the research article said. This move by the Government certainly comes as a blow on the faces of those who have been claiming that Narendra Modi is bowing down to Chinese diplomacy!
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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Such artcles are nothing but trying to flare up the vulnerable situation.the writer or the journo wants chief popularity by taking the advantage of the time .The US is trying to use Inda by egaging war with China and then to noose China after weakening it..Whch country escapes destruction in case of nuclear strikes?Who wants tolling of lives and the abysmal nuclear winter.No country can win war by using nukes but by tactical and tactful diplomacy.India cannot be a wannabe.
Usual WESTERN PROVOCATION between India and China.
Who believes anything USA says anyway!
This is a juvenile article that references another speculative article. India’s nuclear capability was never initiated, developed, and positioned against a then non-nuclear Pakistan. It was always designed as a deterrent against a nuclear China. Like India’s nuclear warhead stockpile is estimated (more like desired) to be double of the claimed 120, China’s stockpile is estimated to be triple of the claimed 270. It’s like naively saying that China’s economic growth is slower than India. Every year, China’s 11 trillion dollar economy, growing at 6 percent is still adding 660 billion dollars to its economy, which is a WHOLE lot more when compared to India’s 2 trillion dollar economy, growing at 7 percent is adding only 140 billion to its economy. Get out of jingoism, redo your math, and write better articles that don’t fool people.
The whole idea of a stronger nuclear approach is to give the message that we are capable of defending against the same type of warfare from enemies. No one is stupid enough to fight a war in this modern day and age which can lead to complete destruction of human and economical growth, even if we win or loose we will be vulnerable to other attacks from other enemies, India from Pakistan, and China from its enemies loosely Japan and Vietnam. No harm is giving self defense a good boost.
A lot of Chinese growth is credit based. Chinese debt has crossed 300%.
https://www.google.co.in/amp/www.cnbc.com/amp/2017/06/28/chinas-debt-surpasses-300-percent-of-gdp-iif-says-raising-doubts-over-yellens-crisis-remarks.html
Chinese economy is being run by mad men, who are producing just for sake of growth…. ending up with gargantuan debt.
Never, talk of GDP without considering debt