India should avoid ICBM Race

[Prometheus]

India should avoid ICBM Race idrw.org

With Agni-V intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) already out of drawing boards and getting ready to be fired next year. Debate has been ragging in the Defence circle, Should India develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)? , it been a decade now that India have the capability to design and test a ICBM , “it will hardly take less than two years to work and test fire one “ as told to me once by a DRDO scientist .
World is watching India’s moves closely, after Agni-V future ballistic missiles will be in ICBM range (5500 km +), Does India really need to have an ICBM to have a global impact? , Just because China have been developing new generation ICBMs, India does not have to join the club just for sake of it, Threat perceptive of china is completely different to what India have, China sees United states of America has a possible future threat with which china may go into a war with .while India doesn’t have any such Threat from Us or any other south American countries.
Agni-V with its massive 1.5 tons payload will be able to hit targets at 5000km and with lesser payload same missile system will be able to hit targets up to 7000 km, which covers all possible conflict zones for India.
ICBMs have been projected by many in India has great display of military might to the world, to make world recognize India has the global military power, But the question is India which is world’s largest importer of conventional weapons can be seriously considered a Global power House? When it cannot even build smaller conventional weapons at home. Smaller countries like Israel and Singapore provides India their developed weapons, how can world seriously consider India’s military might with purchased weapons.
India has to start developing all major conventional weaponry in house, and success of these weapons in export market will only give India the political and economical influence in the world affairs which will naturally propel India into super powers league

 

[Avatar]

India should definitely develop the most potent weapons it can and pray that it never has to use them.

We also need to learn to work in secrecy. The existing missile specifications might be subject to speculation.

 

[genetic_nomad]

India should definitely develop the most potent weapons it can

I stand on the other end on this one, why build a weapon for a non-existent (currently and in foreseeable future) enemy. we'd be better off investing that money in fundamental research so we can give better weaponry to our troops.. there are so many other avenues that need funding & defense policy attention.
hope our policy makers stay focused on real priorities.

 

[Avatar]

I stand on the other end on this one, why build a weapon for a non-existent (currently and in foreseeable future) enemy. we'd be better off investing that money in fundamental research so we can give better weaponry to our troops.. there are so many other avenues that need funding & defense policy attention.
hope our policy makers stay focused on real priorities.

Your argument could have been more powerful if did not emphasize on funding.

You see, the money we save from not developing these missiles won't make much of a difference if used elsewhere. Most of it will land in swiss banks and pockets of corrupt individuals. Although this is a sad fact neither you or me can individually change it.

Also the money we use here is not significant enough to impact other sectors it can be used in. More then anything else we need to work on honesty.

In future as India grows economically, new threats might emerge from existing economic powerhouses who are not willing to give away their positions. If India is not powerful militarily, then it will be intimidated. These weapons help us more in preventing a war than fighting it.

 

[frodo]

I stand on the other end on this one, why build a weapon for a non-existent (currently and in foreseeable future) enemy. we'd be better off investing that money in fundamental research so we can give better weaponry to our troops.. there are so many other avenues that need funding & defense policy attention.
hope our policy makers stay focused on real priorities.

I think we should build ICBMs as u never know, in next 10 years US can again become our enemy as it was 10 years ago.

The other reason is, if India wants to become a global powerhouse, then definitely it should possess weapons of global reach too. Not only missiles but also long range bombers.

If India doesn't want this, then she should also stop thinking about the premanent membership in UNSC. Atleast in that case it won't have to beg in front of each and every head of state to support its nomination for permanent seat in UNSC.

 

[democracyspeaks]

No ways India should avoid ICBM race. As fast as possible we should have our own ICBM, like other super powers

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

I stand on the other end on this one, why build a weapon for a non-existent (currently and in foreseeable future) enemy. we'd be better off investing that money in fundamental research so we can give better weaponry to our troops.. there are so many other avenues that need funding & defense policy attention.
hope our policy makers stay focused on real priorities.

how about feeding your 350-400 million poor first...1/3 of the worlds poorest people are in india

 

[genetic_nomad]

how about feeding your 350-400 million poor first...1/3 of the worlds poorest people are in india

thanks for your input

 

[flanker30]

how about feeding your 350-400 million poor first...1/3 of the worlds poorest people are in india

wat about the security of the poors,anyway u guys don't have anything more than this line

 

[DMLA]

I believe there is a need to rethink the title of this thread! We are not in a race and frankly, if we really were, I would say we already lost considering the fact that the major world powers already have ICBM's deployed .

I don't see any need for land based ICBM's for India! I however, do agree that we need long range SLBM's. Thus if someone says that the ICBM development will be a prelude to the long range SLBM deployment, I would consider that meaningful!





The pic is from june 1979. I can't wait for similar news to come out on times of india with the news of AGNI SLBM being deployed.

 

[genetic_nomad]

i can agree to that DMLA, thanks for the post.

 

[BJlaowai]

With SLBMs on Nuke sub (Arihant SSBN?) India already has virtual ICBM capability. We dont need to make enemies out of our friends by developing land based ICBMs.
Our top priority should be on tactical missiles and BMD systems. We should be capable of withstanding the nuke blackmail from our irresponsible neighbors.
Our strategic missiles are quite adequate at present.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

wat about the security of the poors,anyway u guys don't have anything more than this line

u guys don't have anything more than getting emotional over advice that was given to you

take it or leave it....


(you'll probably leave it, meaning you'll pretend like india is some rich developed country when almost half your country is in abject poverty)



good strategy

 

[ambidex]

u guys don't have anything more than getting emotional over advice that was given to you

take it or leave it....


(you'll probably leave it, meaning you'll pretend like india is some rich developed country when almost half your country is in abject poverty)

good strategy

A think tank from a nation vows to eat grass (read: ready to live in extreme poverty) to defeat India should weigh his word before preaching some thing against its own deeds and ideology. More powers brings more responsibilities. I am not talking about this thread ICBM etc but your think tank responsibilities.

Regards

 

[Ruag]

how about feeding your 350-400 million poor first...1/3 of the worlds poorest people are in india

Now I understand why you are regarded as a "Think Tank" here.

If anything, Indians don't need lectures on wealth management from people of a country which lags way behind in per capita income, human development index, life expectancy and literacy and yet spends 50% more on defence compared to India (as a percentage of GDP).