08-13-2010, 07:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-13-2010, 08:51 PM by BlessedAgni.)
[quote name='Arun_S' date='13 August 2010 - 02:18 AM' timestamp='1281661815' post='107876']
Regarding N deterrence options available to India in current situation you may want to read[url="http://www.indiaresearch.org/WayToACredibleDeterrent.pdf"] WAY TO A CREDIBLE DETERRENT by your faithfully.[/url][/quote]
Arun sir, I have read the entire report. Let me first say that is brilliant and that its recommendations are commendable. I would also like to add that I have learnt quite a bit from this report. I have a few queries regarding it.
1) The report states "In the absence of underground testing, the reliability, safety, and effectiveness of the remaining stockpile can be assured only through advanced computational capabilities and above-ground experimental facilities" (such as National Ignition Test Facilities). Does India have such facilities or have plans to build such facilities since it is clear from the report that TN test cannot be taken as a complete success ("Thermonuclear experiment (Shakti-1) based credible warhead however requires confirmatory test."? What is also new to me is that the Chinese do have such a facility.
2) "Lacking the investment of about US$ 30 billion over the next 5 years, it is clear that the nuclear
weapons program will be crippled." - Are there any plans to keep the military part of our nuclear program afloat? This part is shocking to me as it highlights the fact that no investment has gone into this side of the program for a long time and is in imminent danger of collapsing.
3) "There is a false debate about the need to deploy the deterrent in a de-alerted status- separate the
payload from launch vehicles." This is absolutely true. But aren't the Indian weapons already separated? As I've understood from western sources, the warheads have not been mated with the missiles and are located at different places to prevent "accidental" mating.
What needs to be kept in mind is the fact that Pakistani weapons and missiles are bound to be more advanced than those of India. Not because of Pakistani ingenuity but because of the information flow from China (especially since China has a laser facility). This puts even more pressure on India if the TN tests are not somehow verified.
Regarding N deterrence options available to India in current situation you may want to read[url="http://www.indiaresearch.org/WayToACredibleDeterrent.pdf"] WAY TO A CREDIBLE DETERRENT by your faithfully.[/url][/quote]
Arun sir, I have read the entire report. Let me first say that is brilliant and that its recommendations are commendable. I would also like to add that I have learnt quite a bit from this report. I have a few queries regarding it.
1) The report states "In the absence of underground testing, the reliability, safety, and effectiveness of the remaining stockpile can be assured only through advanced computational capabilities and above-ground experimental facilities" (such as National Ignition Test Facilities). Does India have such facilities or have plans to build such facilities since it is clear from the report that TN test cannot be taken as a complete success ("Thermonuclear experiment (Shakti-1) based credible warhead however requires confirmatory test."? What is also new to me is that the Chinese do have such a facility.
2) "Lacking the investment of about US$ 30 billion over the next 5 years, it is clear that the nuclear
weapons program will be crippled." - Are there any plans to keep the military part of our nuclear program afloat? This part is shocking to me as it highlights the fact that no investment has gone into this side of the program for a long time and is in imminent danger of collapsing.
3) "There is a false debate about the need to deploy the deterrent in a de-alerted status- separate the
payload from launch vehicles." This is absolutely true. But aren't the Indian weapons already separated? As I've understood from western sources, the warheads have not been mated with the missiles and are located at different places to prevent "accidental" mating.
What needs to be kept in mind is the fact that Pakistani weapons and missiles are bound to be more advanced than those of India. Not because of Pakistani ingenuity but because of the information flow from China (especially since China has a laser facility). This puts even more pressure on India if the TN tests are not somehow verified.