Nuclear Deterrence

[Arun_S]

I had the above article reviewed by friend who is proficient in Russian. Confirmed that the babble-fish translation is quite accurate, and the article is on the dot.



The power output of Arihant is intentionally (and grossly) mis-stated to obfuscate sensitive information.



Note that another independent source is re-confirming the range numbers that estimated in my IRF article on Sagarika

Nuclear-missile panel of the [yuzhnoaziatskogo] giant

// [url="http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=us&lp=ru_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fvpk-news.ru%2fauthors%2f1038"]Constantine [Chuprin][/url]

© 2003-2011 “military industrial messenger”

According to the point of 3 articles IX of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty only Russia, USA, Great Britain, France and China are at the international-legal level legitimate members of the so-called nuclear club. Nevertheless today great nuclear power it is possible rightfully to consider India.



In this country they are created developed nuclear energy and the atomic energy industry, which includes all components of nuclear fuel cycle, the armed forces of republic are equipped with nuclear weapon, the building of underwater atomic fleet is begun. In a word, Indian atom serves both the strengthening and advance of forward national economy and guarantee of defense of state.



The rapid progress “rapid” reactors



Their first nuclear test, carried out under the poetic name “smiling himself Buddha”, Hindus declared peaceful; however, not in whom it arose doubts, that India became [obladatelnitsey] “the weapon of apocalypse” (or faster “[Makhabkharaty]”). Officially Delhi reported this almost quarter of a century later, when was in May 1998 realized a series of underground nuclear tests “[Shakti]-98”. Then they exploded five charges, including thermonuclear with power on the order of 40 kilotons. Now production capacities make possible for the country to obtain two “mean statistical” boosted fission weapons per year.



The failure of Delhi to be joined to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, opened for the signing in 1968, led to the prohibitions to the delivery of foreign nuclear technologies. Result? India reached the impressive successes not only in the region of serviceman, but also in the part of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. So the, in the opinion former director of the Los Alamos laboratory (USA) of Sigfried [Kheker], sanction, for example, they contributed so that India entered into the number of world leaders in the sphere of the development “rapid” nuclear reactors - on the fast neutrons. It was necessary to soften the regime of limitations with respect to India - Americans themselves began to lament to the fact that the acting prohibitions prevent their access to the promising operating times of Hindus in nuclear energy.



Today Indian AES yearly produce about three percent of electric power in the country. Certainly, this it is not enough. However, the by 2035 this index it is planned to increase to 10 percent, and by 2050 - to 25. national strategy of the development of nuclear energy of republic determines completely the original three-stage program, which is been based on the idea of closing nuclear fuel cycle. With its creation the presence proven domestic reserving of nuclear raw material was accepted into the attention: not too significant on uranium - 61 thousand tons, then very large (some of the large in the world) on thorium - 225 thousand tons (but according to others data - 360 thousand tons).



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Andrey [Sedykh]'s collage



First stage of the program of the locked nuclear cycle assumes combustion on the power units with the heavy-water reactors PHWR of natural uranium -238 with the subsequent isolation from the irradiated nuclear fuel of plutonium 239. Heavy-water reactors are more preferable than light-water from the point of view of the operating time of plutonium from natural uranium.



Obtained plutonium must be used as the nuclear fuel in the second step - on the power units with “rapid” reactors. Moreover in “rapid” reactors will be first used oxide uranium fuel-, will after which follow its substitution by metallic fuel - first uranium-plutonium, and then with the load even and thorium.



The mass load of thorium into “rapid” power reactors it is planned to begin by 2050, when the total installed electrical capacity of the equipped by them power units reaches 200 gigawatts. This will make it possible to approach the operating time of uranium -233, which will become the basic fuel of power reactors at the third step of program.



For finalizing of promising nuclear energy technologies Indian atomic scientists created the design of the heavy-water reactor AHWR, designed for the use of thorium. The experience of Indian thorium developments attracts attention of developed countries.



The task of introduction into the system “rapid” reactors with their transfer into the metallic fuel- is urgent from the positions of reaching by India energy independence to the middle of century. Moreover for this it is necessary to still stock up until 2020 abroad the light-water reactors with total installed capacity on the order 40 gigawatts. They (in addition to existing PHWR) will make it possible to produce the sufficiency of plutonium for launching the additional park “rapid” reactors, that also will ensure by 2050 the liquidation of energy-scarcity in the country.



That not speak, program immense and at the same time elegant according to the engineering economic concept.



The prototype of future nuclear energy on the fast neutrons is the Indian demonstration power unit PFBR-500 (with an installed electrical capacity of 500 megawatts), which is built in [Kalpakkame]. Heat-transfer agent of reactor - liquid sodium. As stated on the taken place in Moscow international forum “Of [atomekspo]-2010” the member of commission for atomic energy of republic doctor [Anil] [Kakodkar], “rapid” reactors are developed in India rapidly. In “rapid” reactor PFBR-500 will be used plutonium with the operating time of additional nuclear fuel by irradiating thorium.



It is further, it is more powerful, it is more precise



Mastery of India by nuclear weapon led to the appearance in the system of management of the armed forces of special structure - NCA - Nuclear Of command Of authority (that can be transferred as the administration of nuclear command). This is the not purely military, but military-political organ of state management. NCA is occupied by nuclear planning in the interests of defense, answers for adoption and realization of the solution about the use of nuclear weapons for the repulsion of the external aggression. Heads Nuclear Of command Of authority the prime minister of republic.



The organ of the technical-operational Arms Forces Administration, by the subordinate directly OF NCA and to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces of India, is the formed in 2003 command of strategic forces (Strategic Of forces Of command - SFC). It achieves a coordination of actions of the nuclear components of ground forces and VVS, been parts SV, equipped with the ballistic missiles of ground-based basing, and by the air squadrons of carrier aircraft of nuclear bombs. In the forseeable future into the sphere of responsibility SFC also will enter the now created sea strategic nuclear forces.



The nuclear arsenal of India is intended for “the restraining”, first of all, of Pakistan and China. At present at the disposal SFC are located being counted in the composition of ground forces two groups of the tactical ballistic missiles OF SS-150 “[Pritkhvi]-1” (rocket it entered into service it in 1994 and has a range of fire of 150 kilometers), on one group of the ballistic missiles of the de facto operational-tactical designation “Of [agni]-1” (is for the first time tested in 1989, the firing distance - 700-800 kilometers) and medium distance “Of [agni]-2” (in arsenal since 2002, 2000-3500 kilometers).



In all India has available 80-100 rockets “[Agni]-1”, 20-25 “[Agni]-2” and is not less than 60 “[Pritkhvi]-1”. They all are expanded on the self-propelled launchers with the Czech tractors “Of [tatra]”. There is information, also, about the appearance of railroad launchers for the rockets “[Agni]-2”, which increases the flexibility of application and the vitality of Indian nuclear-missile forces. However, the part of these rockets is intended for the equipment with conventional warheads, but nuclear charges in peacetime on the carriers are not established and are contained in the special depositories.



Is successfully tested the ballistic intermediate range rocket (5500 kilometers) “Of [agni]-3”, capable of striking, for example, Peking and Shanghai. In the stage of development is located intercontinental ballistic missile “[Agni]-5”. The new medium-range rocket OF SS-250 “[Pritkhvi]-2” (250-350 kilometers) of c[ozdana] for the ground-based missile units VVS, but, possibly, enters also into ground forces. There is a naval version “Of [pritkhvi]-3” (distance - 350 kilometers) class “above-water ship-to-shore”, tested from onboard of patrol ship “[Subkhadra]” and destroyer “They [radzhput]”. True, it is highly improbable, that it will enter into service, in particular, in connection with the fact that on the accuracy of the shooting “Of [dkhanush]” it is inferior to Russian- Indian cruise missile “[BraMos]”.



The Air Force of India as the carriers of nuclear weapon can use 36 French tactical fighters “mirage -2000[N]” and 98 Russian Su-30[MKI]. It is possible that for the application in this quality are prepared the combat aircraft of some other types. But the total number of nuclear charges, accumulated by India, is evaluated at 100 units. Big enough power!



Russian “atearenes” for hire



Completely exceptional moment in the international military technical collaboration became transfer in 1988 to the lease Indian Navy of the Soviet atomic submarine K -43 of project 670, armed by eight cruise missiles “amethyst” of class “underwater boat- ship”. The underwater nuclear-powered ships of this project, known in the West by the name Of charlie-1, in the Soviet fleet were intended for dealing, first of all, with the aircraft carriers and other large ships of enemy.



Boat K -43 was called in the Naval forces of India name “[Chakra]”. For three years Indian seamen mastered the wisdom of control of nuclear-powered ship and its maintenance, after acquiring truly unique experience. Approximately one year “Of [chakra]” it conducted in the distant “auto-butMKah”, it patrolled the expanses of the Indian Ocean, practice rocket firings were achieved.



Through the sections of nuclear-powered submarine “[Chakra]” they passed in the course of their official career several Indian Admirals. Now they occupy dignities in the Naval forces of the country, to a considerable extent determining strategy of their development.



Submarine so was pleased that India requested to prolong the period of its lease and it was not away obtain one additional the same APL. However, Moscow answered by Delhi by failure, and [Chakru]” they in 1991 " returned to Pacific Ocean fleet. However, to it, as newly [obretshey] previous completely [neromantichnoe] name K -43, to for long serve it was not necessary: 1992- m they excluded boat from the lists of the ships the Navies of Russia and they placed on the hitching post in the bay Of [krasheninnikova] in Kamchatka.



However, to Russian- Indian collaboration in the region, connected with the atomic underwater ships, it was judged continue. For the Naval forces of India is intended the constructed in Komsomol'sk-na-Amur multipurpose nuclear-powered submarine K -152 (“seal”) of the project of 971[I]. It relates to a series of Russians “atearene”, named in the West Akula, and - “Pike- B”. Until today nuclear-powered ships of the type “Pike- B” in their class are most perfect from those locating in the system of Russian fleet APL and moreover this some of the lowest-noise atomic submarines in the world. So that Indian Navy rely on very valuable acquisition. As it communicated, the period of the leasing of boat is 10 years. As the inheritance from the previous “Soviet-Indian” atomic submarine “seal” will be called in India the name “[Chakra]”.



We can and themselves…



Today India itself builds submarines with the nuclear power plants. Moreover are created boats not multipurpose, but the strategic designation, intended for inflicting of nuclear missile attacks on the ground-based objects of enemy.



The Defense Ministry of India reported still in 1988 on the intentions to acquire by her own nuclear-powered submarine S -2 within the framework of the realization of ship-building program ATV (Advanced Of technology Of vessel - “the vessel of advanced technology”). It was initially assumed that the discussion deals with the multipurpose atomic submarine, but was in actuality accepted the solution to design the boat, armed by ballistic missiles. Thus republic marked the beginning of sea of component of its nuclear forces.



At present in accordance with the program ATV on the shipyards in [Vishakkhapatname] are built three atomic rocket submarines. The appropriated to head submarine name “[Arikhant]” on Sanskrit indicates “the fighter of enemies”. In July 2009 took place the symbolic ceremony of the descent “Of [arikhanta]” to the water - strictly, boat in this case was located in the plant dock. Officially in the composition of fleet it can be accepted in 2011 or later.



By energy heart “[Arikhanta]” is the water-cooled water-modulated reactor, developed by the joint efforts of scientists and engineers of the nuclear centers of name [Khomi] of ram and Indira Gandhi. For finalizing of the engineering solutions, including in the region of providing nuclear and radiation safety, in [Kalpakkame] was built and began to be exploited in 2006 the bench ground-based version of boat reactor. Turboinstallation with power 47 of thousand horsepower for “[Arikhanta]” placed Indian firm Walchandnagar Of industries, system of control - company Of tata Of power SED, the branch of the industrial group Of tata Of power. Power unit makes possible “For [arikhantu]” to develop underwater speed 24 unit, i.e., the order of 44 kilometers in hour.



The impact potential “Of [arikhanta]” they compose 12 ballistic intermediate range rockets K -15 “Of [sagarika]”. “[Sagariku]” developed The [khaydarabadskiy] center of the missile construction of multiprofile state defense enterprise DRDO - the same, that it created the rockets “Of [agni]” and “[Pritkhvi]”. It is assumed that with the payload of 1000 kilograms the flying range of rocket “[Sagarika]” will reach 700 kilometers, and 180- kilogram warhead it will throw up to the distance 1900 kilometers. In connection with the possibility of nuclear equipment “Of [sagariki]” preferable is the second index.



Certainly, on the range of fire “Of [sagarika]” it is substantially inferior to the contemporary ballistic underwater-launched missiles of Russia, USA, France and China. But it is necessary to assume that this is completely acceptable for India taking into account the arrangement of forces in South Asia and in the pond of the Indian Ocean. The first underwater launching “[Sagariki]” from the submerged test pontoon took place in 2008.



It is possible that nuclear-powered ships of the type “[Arikhant]” in the future can obtain the long-rangeer ballistic missiles THE K- X, which are been naval counterpart of land rocket “[Agni]-3”. In each of four launching silos “[Arikhanta]” is placed on three “[Sagariki]” or on one K- X.



It is expected that the program will not limit to three boats of the type “[Arikhant]” and will be built two additional submarines. But this it means: on the number of strategic atomic submarine fleet India will arise in one row with Great Britain, France and China.



[url="http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=us&lp=ru_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fvpk-news.ru%2fauthors%2f1038"]Constantine [Chuprin][/url]



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