Nuclear Deterrence

[Bharat_2009]

"

SK: There is one project which has never been talked about openly called “Surya”, which is an ICBM, what is its status?



KS: People have been mentioning it, but does India require an ICBM? India needs a missile which reaches Beijing and Tientsin. That is about 4000-5000 km missile. If you start designing an ICBM beyond that range, you will make the Americans wary. Are we likely to go to war with Americans? Our people talk about our submarines going to the Pacific to target China. But there is no need for it. Your submarines can be in the Bay of Bengal and with a missile of 4000-5000 km range you easily target Beijing and China."



"SK: We have stockpile for another 80-100 weapons.

KS: Yes we do. Americans and Russians are planning to bring down theirs to 1500. Then what do we need? So we have to have clear ideas on that"





It is obvious that KS gave very clever replies to sensitive questions regarding strategic weapons program. KS replies sound very similar to replies by DRDO top guys regarding nuclear bombs, ICBMs and even about Chemical weapons (Well, United Nations representatives can come and check whereever they want, Chemical weapons are not going anywhere)



Regarding ICBMs,



From Arun's articles, we all know that



Even Agni II at lower payloads can go beyond 5000 km.



Forget about Agni II(AT), Agni III, Agni IV (True ICBM) and Agni V (3 stages modified Agni III)