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| ] is believed to possess an arsenal of ]s and maintains ] ]s to deliver them. Though ] has not made any official statements about the size of its nuclear arsenal, different estimates indicate that India has anywhere between 50 to 250 nuclear weapons<ref>Norris, Robert S. and Hans M. Kristensen. "India's nuclear forces, 2005", ''Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists'' 61:5 (September/October 2005): 73–75,''''</ref> <ref></ref><ref>India's and Pakistan's Fissile Material and Nuclear Weapons Inventories, end of 1999</ref><ref></ref>. Weapons-grade plutonium production is believed to be taking place at the ], which is home to the ] acquired from ], to the indigenous ], and to a ] separation facility. | |||
| According to a January 2001 ] report, "] probably has a small stockpile of ] components and could assemble and deploy a few nuclear weapons within a few days to a week." A 2001 ] study by Ashley Tellis asserts that India does not have or seek to deploy a ready nuclear arsenal.<ref></ref> | |||
| According to a report in ] (4), India's objective is to have a nuclear arsenal that is "strategically active but operationally dormant", which would allow India to maintain its retaliatory capability "within a matter of hours to weeks, while simultaneously exhibiting restraint." However, the report also maintains that, in the future, India may face increasing institutional pressure to shift its nuclear arsenal to a fully deployed status.<ref></ref>According to other reports India and China have sectretly assembled many nuclear weapons that has made China have the 3rd most nuclear weapons and India have the fourth most nuclear weapons. | |||
| ==Nuclear Weapons==<!-- This section is linked from ] --> | |||
| ===Brief Historical Overview=== | |||
| ] | |||
| As early as ] ], ] ], soon to be India's first ], announced: {{cquote|As long as the world is constituted as it is, every country will have to devise and use the latest devices for its protection. I have no doubt India will develop her scientific researches and I hope Indian scientists will use the atomic force for constructive purposes. But if India is threatened, she will inevitably try to defend herself by all means at her disposal.<ref>B. M. Udgaonkar, , Indian Academy of Sciences, January 1999.</ref>}} | |||
| India's first Nuclear test occurred on ] ]. Since then India has conducted another series of test at the ] test range in the state of ] in 1998. India has an extensive civil and military nuclear program, which includes at least 10 ]s, ] mining and milling sites, ] production facilities, a uranium enrichment plant, fuel fabrication facilities, and extensive nuclear research capabilities. | |||
| ===Current Arsenal and Estimates of Force Inventory=== | |||
| ] missile]] | |||
| * It is widely estimated that India currently has approximately 200 warheads.<ref>Norris, Robert S. and Hans M. Kristensen. "India's nuclear forces, 2005", ''Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists'' 61:5 (September/October 2005): 73–75,''''</ref> It is known that about 75% of its warheads are assembled and the rest are in a sub-assembled position, and the number is expected to grow in time.<ref></ref>. | |||
| * ]'s report published by ] on 2000 estimates that india at end of 1999 had 310 kilograms of ] plutonium which is enough for 65 nuclear weapons. He also estimates that India has 4200 kg of reactor grade unsafeguarded plutonium which is enough to build 1000 nuclear weapons.<ref>India's and Pakistan's Fissile Material and Nuclear Weapons Inventories, end of 1999</ref><ref></ref>. By the end of 2004, he estimates India has 445 kilograms of ] plutonium which is enough for around 85 nuclear weapons considering 5 kg of plutonium required for each weapon<ref> India’s Military Plutonium Inventory, End 2004 </ref> | |||
| * ] (NRDC) believes that India has a stockpile of about 30 to 35 nuclear warheads and claims that India is producing additional nuclear materials.<ref>The Consequences of | |||
| ] between India and Pakistan </ref> | |||
| * Former ] official J.K. Sinha claimed that India has capability to produce 130 kilograms of ] plutonium from six unsafeguarded reactors not included in nuclear deal between India and United States.<ref>India can make 50 nuclear warheads a year </ref> | |||
| *Joseph Cirincione at the ] (3) estimates that India has produced enough weapons-grade plutonium for 50-90 nuclear weapons and a smaller but unknown quantity of weapons-grade uranium{{Fact|date=December 2007}} | |||
| === Doctrine === | |||
| ] | |||
| India has a declared nuclear no-first-use policy and is in the process of developing a nuclear doctrine based on "credible minimum deterrence." In August 1999, the Indian government released a draft of the doctrine which asserts that nuclear weapons are solely for deterrence and that India will pursue a policy of "retaliation only." The document also maintains that India "will not be the first to initiate a nuclear first strike, but will respond with punitive retaliation should deterrence fail" and that decisions to authorize the use of nuclear weapons would be made by the Prime Minister or his 'designated successor(s).'" | |||
| According to the NRDC, despite the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan in 2001-2002, India remains committed to its nuclear no-first-use policy. But an Indian foreign ministry official told Defense News in 2000 that a "'no-first-use' policy does not mean India will not have a first-strike capability." | |||
| ===Command and Control=== | |||
| India's ] was formally established in 2003, with an Air Force officer, Air Marshall ], as the Commander-in-Chief. The joint services SNC is the custodian of all of India's nuclear weapons, ] and assets. It is also responsible for executing all aspects of India's nuclear policy. However, the civil leadership, in the form of the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) is the only body authorized to order a nuclear strike against another offending strike: In effect, it is the ] who has his finger "on the button". | |||
| ===International Treaties=== | |||
| India is not a signatory to either the ] (NPT) or the ] (CTBT), but did accede to the ] in October 1963. India is a member of the ] (IAEA), and four of its 13 nuclear reactors are subject to IAEA safeguards. | |||
| India announced its lack of intention to accede to the NPT as late as 1997 by voting against the paragraph of a ] Resolution<ref>{{ UN document |docid=A-52-PV.67 |body=General Assembly |type=Verbatim| session=52 |meeting=67 |anchor=pg015-bk01 |date=] ] |accessdate=2007-08-22 }}</ref> which urged all non-signatories of the treaty to accede to it at the earliest possible date.<ref name="UN_ARES5238">{{UN document |docid=A-RES-52-38 |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=52 |highlight=rect_85,384_928,444 |page=16 |accessdate=2007-08-22}}</ref> | |||
| India voted against the UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the ], which was adopted on ], ]. India objected to the lack of provision for universal ] "within a time-bound framework." India also demanded that the treaty ban laboratory simulations. In addition, India opposed the provision in Article XIV of the CTBT that requires India's ratification for the treaty to enter into force, which India argued was a violation of its sovereign right to choose whether it would sign the treaty. In early February 1997, Foreign Minister Gujral reiterated India's opposition to the treaty, saying that "India favors any step aimed at destroying nuclear weapons, but considers that the treaty in its current form is not comprehensive and bans only certain types of tests." | |||
| Controversially the ] is now willing to provide India access to civilian nuclear technology through the 2006 ], despite India not being a member of the NPT which normally precludes such international cooperation. This is the direct result of the fact that India is recognized by the US and many other developed regions of the world as an important ally in the war on terror and further testifies to the fact that the West believes that the nuclear technology is intended for peaceful purposes. {{Fact|date=July 2008}} | |||
| ===Delivery Systems=== | |||
| ====Ballistic Missiles==== | |||
| ] | |||
| India is only the fourth country that has ] capability called in India as the ] or the ]. The ] (IGMDP) was an Indian Ministry of Defence program for the development of a comprehensive range of missiles, including the intermediate range Agni missile (Surface to Surface), and short range missiles such as the Prithvi ballistic missile (Surface to Surface), Akash missile (Surface to Air), Trishul missile (Surface to Air) and Nag Missile (Anti Tank). The program was headed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), with former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, being one of the chief engineers involved in the project. | |||
| India has methodically built an indigenous missile production capability, using its commercial space-launch program to develop the skills and infrastructure needed to support an offensive ballistic missile program. For example, during the 1980s, India conducted a series of space launches using the solid-fueled SLV-3 booster. Most of these launches put light satellites into near-earth orbit. Elements of the SLV-3 were subsequently incorporated into two new programs. In the first, the new polar-space launch vehicle (]) was equipped with six SLV-3 motors strapped to the PSLV's first stage. The Agni IRBM technology demonstrator uses the SLV-3 booster as its first stage. | |||
| The key missile applications and types are given below: | |||
| * ''']'''. | |||
| ] | |||
| The Prithvi I is mobile liquid-fueled 150 kilometer tactical missile currently deployed with army units. It is claimed that this missile is equipped only with various conventional warheads (which stay attached to the missile over the entire flight path). The missile is of particular interest to the United States (and potential buyers) in that has the capability of maneuvering in flight so as to follow one of several different preprogrammed trajectories. Based on the same design, a modified Prithvi, the Prithvi II, is essentially a longer-ranged version of the Prithvi I except that it has a 250-kilometer range and a lighter payload. It is suspected that any nuclear missions will be executed by the Prithvi II. Currently, the Prithvi II has completed development and is now in production. When fielded, it will be deployed with air force units for the purpose of deep target attacking manoeuvres against objectives such as air fields. For the ], a 350-kilometer version of the Prithvi is under development. The new system is being called the ], testing is planned to begin in December 1998. It is unclear whether or not this system will be deployed on India's new nuclear missile submarine (under construction). | |||
| The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing 3 variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner. | |||
| * Prithvi I - Army Version (150 km range with a payload of 1,000kg) | |||
| * Prithvi II - Air Force Version (250 km range with a payload of 500kg) | |||
| * Prithvi III - Naval Version (350 km range with a payload of 500kg) | |||
| * Dhanush- Dhanush is reportedly a naval version of Prithvi which can be launched from Ships.. Some sources claim that Dhanush is | |||
| a System consisting of stabilization platform and missiles, which has the capability to launch both Prithvi II and Prithvi III from Ships while others report that Dhanush is a variant of Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile. | |||
| Over the years these specifications underwent a number of changes. While the codename Prithvi stands for any missile inducted by India into its armed forces in this category, the later developmental versions are codenamed as Prithvi II and Prithvi III. | |||
| * ''']'''. | |||
| ] | |||
| The 1500-kilometer Agni I technology demonstrator uses the SLV-3 booster for its first stage and a liquid-fueled Prithvi for its second stage. Three test shots were conducted before the U.S. successfully pressured India into suspending testing (1994). Of particular interest, the Agni tests demonstrated that India can develop a maneuvering warhead that incorporates endo-atmospheric evasive maneuvers and terminal guidance in the reentry vehicle. India has also developed the carbon-carbon composite materials needed for long-range missile components and reentry vehicle ablative coatings. India has also inducted Agni II misiles that have a range of the 2500 to 3500-kilometers. Unlike the Agni I, the Agni II will have a solid-fueled second stage. It is believed that the Agni can only be equipped with a conventional warhead. India recently tested the Agni III IRBM with a range between 5000 and 18000 kilometers <ref></ref> which has two stages. Though this range only depends on the load. With a load of 1800Kg the Agni can travel 5000km but with 400kg load it can travel 18000.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} With a usual 1000kg it can travel 8000km. It is clear that one of the major constraints for this program is the lack of a proven nuclear warhead. Nuclear testing is a key related issue. India developed its own thermonuclear design which was tested in the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and yielded 45 KT. DRDO is working on a Submarine Launched Version of the Agni-III missile, which will provide India with a credible sea based second strike capability.<ref></ref> The SLBM version is a miniaturized version of the Agni-III which is expected to be test fired shortly.<ref></ref> | |||
| *''']'''. | |||
| The ] is an ] program that has been discussed repeatedly in the Indian press. Surya (meaning The Sun in Sanskrit and Many Indian Languages) is the codename for the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that India is reported to be developing. The DRDO is believed to have begun the project in 1994. Officials of the Indian government have repeatedly denied the existence of the project. According to news reports, the Surya-1 is an intercontinental-range, surface-based, solid and liquid propellant ballistic missile. The Surya-1 and -2 will be classified as strategic weapons, extending the Indian nuclear deterrent force to targets around the world. India currently is limited by the range of the Agni-3 missile. The development of a true ICBM would make strikes against almost any strategic target around the world possible and reduce India’s relative weakness. This would develop a credible global deterrent for India. The Surya-1 will have an expected range of 10,000 km. It reportedly has a length of 40 m and a launch weight of 80,000 kg (some reports indicate as much as 275,000 kg. As the missile has yet to be developed, the payload and warhead are as yet unknown. It is believed to be a three-stage design, with the first two stages using solid propellants and the third-stage using liquid. The Surya-2 is a longer-ranged variant of the Surya-1. It has a reported range of 20,000 km. The first test flight is expected in 2008, and it is expected to be operationally ready by 2015. | |||
| *''']'''. | |||
| ] | |||
| Sagarika is a nuclear capable ] ] with a range of 750 km. This missile has a length of 8.5 meters, weighs seven tonnes and can carry a pay load of up to 500 kg.<ref></ref>. The development of this missile started in 1991. The first confirmation about the missile came in ]<ref></ref> The development of the underwater missile launcher know as the Project 78 (P78) was completed in 2001. This was handed over to the ] for trials. The missile was successfully test fired thrice. The Indian Navy plans to induct the missile into service soon. The missile is likely to arm the nuclear submarine which is expected to be launched in 2008. Sagarika will form part of the triad in India's nuclear deterrence and will provide with retaliatory nuclear strike capability.<ref></ref> | |||
| The defence scientists are also near breakthrough in test firing the Sagarika, the country's first underwater launch ballistic missile. Sagarika has already been test-fired from a pontoon, but now DRDO is planning a full-fledged test of the missile from a sub-marine and for this purpose may use the services of a Russian Amur class sub-marine which is expected to happen in September, which is in the same period as the Anti Ballistic Missile test which is jointly developed by Israel and India.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====Cruise Missiles==== | |||
| * ''']''' | |||
| ] | |||
| BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. The acronym BrahMos is perceived as the confluence of the two nations represented by two great rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. It is a joint venture between India's Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed the BrahMos Corp. Propulsion is based on the Russian Yakhont missile, and guidance has been developed by BrahMos Corp. At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, is the world's fastest cruise missile. At about three and a half times faster than the American subsonic Harpoon cruise missile | |||
| ====Air to Air Missiles==== | |||
| * ''']''' | |||
| Astra(Sanskrit: अस्त्रा, Astrā "Weapon") is an active radar homing Beyond visual range air to air missile (BVRAAM) or a ] being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India. This is the first air-to-air nuclear capable missile developed by India. Most other air-to-air missiles of India are bought from Russia. | |||
| The range of Astra is 80 km in head-on chase and 15 km in tail chase. The missile's onboard radio-frequency seeker has been designed in India. It will have an active homing range of 15 km. The missile has a pre-fragmented warhead and is fitted with a proximity fuze. A radar fuze already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuze.The first test to happen with a nuclear warhead on board the missile is to take place in 2008.A successful test flight of ASTRA will plunge India into a select group of nations to have such a technology. Only US, France, Russia and China have so far produced such advance missiles, which enables fighter pilots to lock-on and shoot down enemy aircraft almost 90-120 km away.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Nuclear Submarines== | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| According to some accounts India plans to have as many as five nuclear submarines capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads. Currently, India is building 3 nuclear submarines under the Advanced Technology Vessel plan. The Indian nuclear powered attack submarine design is said to have a 6,000-ton displacement and a single-shaft nuclear power plant of Indian origin.<ref></ref> Once the vessel is completed, it may be equipped with nuclear capable ] or ] missiles and an advanced sonar system. However, according to some analysts the most probable missile for the Indian submarine would be the nuclear capable ] anti-ship cruise missile designed jointly by India and Russia, based on the ] missile by NPO Mashinostroyeniya. | |||
| ===]=== | |||
| The '''Advanced Technology Vessel''' ('''ATV''') is a ] ] being constructed for the ] at Visakhapatnam, ].<ref></ref><ref name="IT"> "Indian nuclear submarine", India Today, August 2007 edition</ref> | |||
| The ATV is an ] and will be armed with the ] like the ] missile, or the submarine variant of the 5000 km range ] missile.<ref name="IT"/> As of July 2007, the Sagarika/K-15 missile was reported to have undergone three successful tests. | |||
| ===]=== | |||
| The ] has 1 such submarine that is called SSGNs by Western observers. INS Chakara armed with ]s such as the Indo-Russian developed ].INS Chakara or the Charlie Class submarine was bought from Russia. | |||
| ==Defensive Missiles== | |||
| ====Air Defense==== | |||
| * ''']''' | |||
| ] | |||
| Akash is a surface-to-air missile with an ] range of 30 km. It has a launch weight of 720 kg, a diameter of 35 cm and a length of 5.78 metres. Akash flies at supersonic speed, reaching around ] 2.5. It can reach an altitude of 18 km. An on-board guidance system coupled with actuator system makes the missile maneuverable up to 15g loads and a tail chase capability for end game engagement. A digital proximity fuse is coupled with a 55kg pre-fragmented warhead, while the safety arming and detonation mechanism enables a controlled detonation sequence. A self-destruct device is also integrated. It is propelled by Integrated Ramjet Rocket Engine. The use of ] propulsion system that enables sustained speeds without deceleration throughout its flight.<ref> article ''dated'' ] ], ''accessed'' ] ].</ref> The Missile as command guidance in its entire flight.<ref name=dr></ref> | |||
| The design of the missile is somewhat similar to that of ] with four long tube ramjet inlet ducts mounted mid-body between wings. For pitch/yaw control four clipped triangular moving wings are mounted on mid-body. For roll control four inline clipped delta fins with ailerons are mounted before the tail. However, the internal schema shows a different layout with an onboard digitial computer, no Semi-active seeker, different propellant, different actuators and command guidance datalinks. The Akash carries an onboard radio-proximity fuse. | |||
| ====Anti-tank guided==== | |||
| * ''']''']]] | |||
| Nag (Sanskrit: नाग, Nāg "Cobra") is a third generation "Fire-and-forget" anti-tank missile developed in India. It is one of five missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).Nag is an all weather, top attack missile with a range of 4 to 7 km. The missile uses an 8 kg tandem HEAT warhead capable of defeating modern armour including ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) and composite armour. Nag uses Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) guidance with day and night capability. Mode of launch for the IIR seeker is LOBL (Lock On Before Launch). The missile has a complete fiberglass structure and weighs around 42 kg. | |||
| ====Anti Ballistic Missiles==== | |||
| *''']''' and ''']''' | |||
| ] capability]] ]]] | |||
| The ''']''' is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered Ballistic missile defense system to protect ] from missile attacks.<ref name="IHT"></ref><ref></ref>India is only the fourth country that has ] capability called in India as the ].PAD was tested in November 2006, followed by AAD in December 2007. With the test of the PAD missile, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed an Anti-ballistic missile system, after ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite press release | title = Development of Ballistic Missile Defence System: Year End Review | publisher = ] | date = ] ] | url = http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=34262 | accessdate = 2008-01-26 | quote = }}</ref> | |||
| '''Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)''' is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles outside atmosphere (Exoatmosphere). Based on the ], PAD is a two stage missile with a maximum interception altitude of 80 km. The first stage is a liquid fuelled motor that uses two propellants and oxidizers while second stage is solid fuelled.<ref>''The interceptor rocket has a liquid-fueled first stage that uses two propellants and oxidizers, and a solid-fuel second stage with a gas thruster that can turn the rocket at more than five Gs. The missile carries sensors to guide it to its target.''</ref>. It has divert thrusters which can generate a lateral acceleration at more than 5 Gs at 50 km altitude. Guidance is provided by intertial navigation system, mid-course updates from long range tracking radar (LRTR) and active radar homing in the terminal phase.PAD has capability to engage 300 to 2,000 km class of ballistic missiles at a speed of Mach 5. | |||
| Long Range Tracking Radar is the target acquisition and fire control Radar for PAD Missile. It is an active phased array radar having capability to track 200 targets at a range of 600 km. | |||
| PADE (Prithvi Air Defence Exercise) was conducted on November 2006 in which PAD Missile successfully intercepted a modified Prithvi-II Missile at an altitude of 50 km. Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile was modified to mimic the trajectory of M-9 and M-11 missiles. | |||
| '''Advanced Air Defence (AAD)''' is an anti-ballistic missile designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in endoatmosphere at an altitude of 30 km. AAD is single stage, solid fuelled missile. Guidance is similar to that of PAD: Inertial Navigation System, midcourse updates from ground based radar and active radar homing in terminal phase. It is 7.5 metres tall, weighs around 1.2 tonnes and a diameter of less than 0.5 metres.<ref></ref>Long Range Tracking Radar is the target acquisition and fire control Radar for PAD Missile. It is an active phased array radar having capability to track 200 targets at a range of 600 km. | |||
| PAD was tested in November 2006, followed by AAD in December 2007. With the test of the PAD missile, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed an Anti-ballistic missile system, after United States, Russia and Israel. | |||
| ==Foreign assistance== | |||
| *India's nuclear program has said to have received significant assistance and contribution by the ] according to CIA reports. | |||
| *Most of India's modern weapons and armory, <!-- Indian missiles are totally indigenous -->fighter planes and tanks are supplied by the ] .These consistent supplies date back to the Bangladesh Liberation War when ] decided to help ] which prompted the ] to support India. | |||
| *] today is the second largest supplier of arms to India after the Russian Federation and has provided sophisticated training to the Indian armed forces. | |||
| ==Chemical Weapons== | |||
| {{Unreferencedsection|date=December 2007}} | |||
| India has an advanced commercial chemical industry, and produces the bulk of its own chemicals for domestic consumption. In 1992 India signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, stating that it did not have chemical weapons and the capacity or capability to manufacture chemical weapons. India became one of the original signatories of the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993, and ratified it on ] ]. Since, unlike the nuclear non- proliferation treaty and the comprehensive test ban treaty, this treaty's provisions were equally applicable to all countries, including the powerful countries, India had readily accepted it. The treaty came into force on ], ]. The full destruction of the weapons grade chemicals will take place only at the end of a 10-year period. As India has one of the largest chemical industries in the world, this industry will benefit from unrestricted trade and technology access which would be denied to non-members of the treaty. | |||
| Although India had endorsed the treaty in September 1996, becoming the 62nd country to do so, when it appeared as though the United States might not approve it, India too declared that it might review its earlier decision endorsing the treaty. Indian observers were of the view that, should America itself fail to approve the treaty, there would be diminished pressure on China and Pakistan against producing chemical weapons. According to India's ex-Army Chief General Sunderji, a country having the capability of making nuclear weapons does not need to have chemical weapons, since the dread of chemical weapons could be created only in those countries that do not have nuclear weapons. Others suggested that the fact that India has found chemical weapons dispensable highlighted its confidence in the conventional weapons system at its command. | |||
| When the Third UN Disarmament Conference, held in 1988, decided that the next logical step in the disarmament process would be measures to halt production of chemical weapons, Indian diplomats responded by claiming that India had no chemical weapons. Foreign Minister K Natwar Singh repeated this claim in 1989 in the Paris Conference of the State Parties to the Geneva Protocol of 1925, as did Minister of State Eduardo Faleiro repeated at the January 1993 Paris Conference CWC signing ceremony. However, India declared its stockpile of chemical weapons to the Chemical Weapons Convention in Geneva on ] ], the deadline for all signatories to the pact. New Delhi publicly declared that, in keeping with the stipulations arising from the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, India had filed initial declarations on "testing and development of chemical weapons and their related facilities which were developed only to deal with the situation arising out of possible use of chemical warfare against India." | |||
| In its required declarations under the CWC, India acknowledged the existence of a chemical warfare program. and disclosed the details of its stockpiles and the availability of manufacturing facilities on a very small scale. New Delhi has pledged that all facilities related to its CW program would be open for inspection. The declaration kept India's chemical armory under wraps, since the CWC Secretariat maintains the confidentiality of the declaration. <sup>]</sup> | |||
| The published literature detailing India's chemical weapons capabilities is extremely sparse. According to one published report, India's stockpile of chemical weapons consists of mustard gas shells left by the British of World War II vintage. These shells, fired from a 25 pounder gun, are said to be in storage and not under the operational control of the Indian Army. India is also reported to have manufacturing facilities for production of agents in small quantities. | |||
| The Indian government has set up Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare directorates in the Services, besides an inter-Services coordination committee to monitor the programme. The Indian Army established a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) cell at Army HQ to study the effects of NBC warfare. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also participating in the program. Research on chemical weapons has continued in various establishments of the military and DRDO research labs. In addition, work is carried out by DRDO to design and fabricate protective clothing and equipment for troops on the battlefield in case of a chemical weapons attack. The Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) at Gwalior is the primary establishment for studies in toxicology and biochemical pharmacology and development of antibodies against several bacterial and viral agents. In addition, research is carried out on antibodies against chemical agent poisoning and heavy metal toxicology. Chemical agents such as Sarin and nerve gas are produced in small quantities to test on protective equipment. | |||
| Protective clothing and equipment are designed and manufactured amongst other places at the Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment at Kanpur. India has developed five types of protective systems and equipment for its troops as a safeguard against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) hazards. The development of all five types of protective systems and equipment has been completed and their induction into the service has been formally approved. The five types of protective systems and equipment are: NBC individual protective equipment, NBC collective protection system, NBC medical protection equipment, NBC detection equipment and the NBC decontamination system. | |||
| It is reported that even after India ratified the Chemical Weapons Treaty in September 1996, efforts continued for manufacturing and stockpiling chemical weapons for use against Pakistan. India's Prithvi surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) can carry five different types of warheads. Two types of warheads have already been deployed, and three other warheads, presumably nuclear, chemical and biological, are under development. On ] ], the Indian government stated that "India will disclose to Pakistan stocks of its chemical weapons". The decision was taken to make a unilateral disclosure on the instruction of Prime Minister I.K. Gujral. | |||
| ==Biological Warfare== | |||
| {{Unreferencedsection|date=April 2008}} | |||
| {{indian missiles}} | |||
| India is a signatory to the BWC of 1972. India has a well-developed ] infrastructure that includes numerous pharmaceutical production facilities bio-containment laboratories (including BSL-3 and BSL-4) for working with lethal ]. It also has highly qualified scientists with expertise in infectious diseases. Some of India’s facilities are being used to support research and development for BW defense purposes. | |||
| The Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) at ] is the primary establishment for studies in ] and biochemical pharmacology and development of antibodies against several bacterial and viral agents. Work is in progress to prepare responses to threats like ], ], ] and ], viral threats like smallpox and viral haemorrhage fever and biotoxic threats like ]. Researchers have developed chemical/biological protective gear, including masks, suits, detectors and suitable drugs. | |||
| India has a 'no first use' policy. | |||
| ==Gallery== | |||
| <gallery> | |||
| Image:BrahMos.gif|BrahMos at the Indian ] Parade | |||
| Image:Agni3 inflight PTI.jpg|Nuclear capable ] missile | |||
| Image:Brahmos.gif | |||
| Image:Brahmos imds.jpg | |||
| Image:Agni-III Republic day.jpg | |||
| Image:Agni-II missile (Republic Day Parade 2004).jpeg | |||
| Image:Agni Missile.jpg | |||
| Image:Can mobile.jpg|Nuclear Submarine Missile ] | |||
| Image:Prithvi 02.jpg | |||
| ] | |||
| Image:Akash SAM.jpg|An Akash missile being test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Orissa. The launch platform is a BMP-2 vehicle | |||
| Image:PAD integration.JPG | |||
| Image:AAD Launch Crop.jpg | |||
| Image:AAD Test Crop.jpg | |||
| Image:Aad.jpg | |||
| Image:Nag with NAMICA Defexpo-2008.JPG | |||
| List of missiles | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <references/> | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| *, ''Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists'', Sept/Oct 2005. | |||
| * A good article with very detailed information | |||
| * India's nuclear conflict with Pakistan- background and the current situation | |||
| * Current information on nuclear stockpiles in India | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{Military of India}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 05:28, 22 July 2008
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