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Indian nuclear inventory as per Bullitin Atomic

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No, its not about the number or yield of nukes. Both Pakistan and India already have enough to decimate each other, but Pakistan needs more because of the larger size of India (similarly India needs less). Thats why Pakistan will always have a higher number.

The issue here is deployment and nuclear weapon usage strategies. Pakistan's strategy has always been mostly counter-force, whereby Pakistan would use smaller (~10kt) nukes to disable military targets, and larger ones for cities if needed. In effect, the conventional superiority of India was balanced by Pakistan's nuclear weapons deployment superiority. This was because of a highly robust command and control, secure storages and mobile launchers. Pakistan's SFC has on multiple occasions exercised the use of nuclear weapons under war-like simulated scenarios.

India's strategy on the other hand was minimal and defensive. If nuked, Indian would nuke Pakistani cities and game-over. However, the state of deployment and robustness was pretty abysmal. IIRC, Indian SFC has never exercised off the Wheeler Island, there used to be only 1 Pakistan-specific hardened nuclear weapons base, similarly the command and control structure is not dedicated and robust. This thing is now changing, with the increase of hardened nuclear weapons storages from 1 to 7, and of nuclear air-bases from 0 to 12 (9 Pakistan-specific). This sort of infrastructure is a concern for us, because preemptive nuclear decapitation strikes are now possible for India.
Hi @The Deterrent
There is no doubt that I disagree with you on certain issues, particularly those involving R&D, but I must say I find your views among one of the most saner ones from Pakistan. There is no doubt that Pakistan actually needs higher number of warheads to decimate India than what India needs to decimate Pakistan. However what we are not taking into account is the fact that while Pakistan has only India to worry about, India on the other hand has both China and Pakistan combined. So in light of this fact, It is India that actually needs warheads that can cater to both China and Pakistan and it is because of this India's nuclear infrastructure is expanding of late!

Also what is alarming is the fact that one can get clues of subtle changes in Indian nuclear posturing--Kindly note, I am not alluding to disbanding the entire NFUP but a "flexible" response against various nuclear adversaries. What India is moving towards is a flexible nuclear posture, wherein India "might" retain the right to go nuclear first in the case of Pakistan whereas sticking to age old NFUP against China. This of course demands higher degree of readiness vis-a-vis Pakistan and can be gauged by the fact that India has invested heavily in canisterization of a lot of strategic systems and sea based SLBMs. In fact according to a few of my seniors, all major ground based missiles under development in India are going to be canisterized from SAMs, Cruise missile to Strategic systems. As you rightly pointed out, India's nuclear infrastructure prior to 2010 was either inadequate or expanding slowly, but of late it has picked a lot of steam. India is actually constructing an entire nuclear city near bangalore which will cater to Indian nuclear submarines and thermonuclear warheads. This site has a dedicated airport and a host of other labs apart from enrichment/nuclear facilities.

Here is an interesting read about Indian stride towards a nuclear navy by some one who was associated with the program for a very long time-
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/indias-nuclear-submarine-programme/
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/indias-nuclear-submarine-programme/2/
 
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Hi @The Deterrent
There is no doubt that I disagree with you on certain issues, particularly those involving R&D, but I must say I find your views among one of the most saner ones from Pakistan. There is no doubt that Pakistan actually needs higher number of warheads to decimate India than what India needs to decimate Pakistan. However what we are not taking into account is the fact that while Pakistan has only India to worry about, India on the other hand has both China and Pakistan combined. So in light of this fact, It is India that actually needs warheads that can cater to both China and Pakistan and it is because of this India's nuclear infrastructure is expanding of late!
If China was perceived as a grave nuclear threat, don't you think Indian SFC would have any credible assets deployed against China? The fact is, only 3 eastern IAF bases have non-hardened possible nuclear weapons storages, and there is one 1 possible rail-mobile Agni site in eastern India. India has deployed FIVE times more assets against Pakistan. So there are two possibilities from now on:

1. Either Indian military does not believes in fighting a nuclear war with China.
2. Or all the China-specific assets will be deployed aboard SSBNs only.

Even if its the second possibility, the rate of progress is so slow that it signals that India does not considers China as a serious and imminent nuclear target.
 
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Even if its the second possibility, the rate of progress is so slow that it signals that India does not considers China as a serious and imminent nuclear target.
Hi @The Deterrent
You're right, on both counts, The rate of progress on Indian nuclear navy is slow and that is understandable because India is not only doing it for the first time, it has to factor in possible accidents etc. Readying a class of nuclear boats for mass production and deterrent patrols is massively difficult task than originally anticipated by Indian planners.
Also to be honest, India doesnt consider a nuclear war even remotely likely with China. But then again, the only naval nuclear site is situated on eastern sea board of India, which means the likely place of initial deployment of Indian SSBNs would most likely be bay of bengal and IOR/ malacca strait etc.
PS- Kindly go through two articles that I posted in my last comment.
 
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@OT,

India seems to have abandoned the defensive nuclear posturing since around 2010, after what seems to be a major policy shift. Indian military command now believes in not using nukes merely for deterrence, but for fighting a comprehensive nuclear war on multiple levels, just like Pakistan.

Since then, India has rapidly evolved its nuclear weapons-related infrastructure at breakneck speed. At least half a dozen new nuclear weapons storage sites have been spotted in Indian states along Pakistani border and at major Naval bases. Thats why we now see ex- and present Indian officials suggesting abandonment of the NFU and preemptive decapitation strikes. (not so) Surprisingly, there seems to be almost no activity against China in this regard.

This sets a very dangerous precedent for the future of the subcontinent.
Doesn't it seems obvious. Earlier this decade and the one before, we worked hard to strengthen our civil nuclear reactors. Went through painstakingly slow learning curve and developmental cycles. Closed loop three phase cycle is now reaping benefits.

For the un-initiated here is how it works. The first stage comprises of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors fuelled by natural uranium. Natural uranium contains only 0.7% of Uranium235, which undergoes fission to release energy (200Mev/atom). The remaining 99.3% comprises Uranium238 which is not fissile however it is converted in the nuclear reactor, to fissile element Pu 239. In the fission process, among other fission products, a small quantity of Plutonium239 is formed by transmutation of Uranium238.

The second stage, comprising of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) are fuelled by mixed oxide of Uranium238 and Plutonium239, recovered by reprocessing of the
first stage spent fuel. In FBRs, Plutonium239 undergoes fission producing energy, and producing Plutonium239 by transmutation of Uranium238. Thus the FBRs
produce energy and fuel, hence termed Breeders. FBRs produce more fuel than they consume. Over a period of time, Plutonium inventory can be built up by feeding
Uranium238.

Thorium232, which constitutes world’s third largest reserves in India, is not fissile therefore needs to be converted to a fissile material, Uranium233, by
transmutation in a fast breeder reactor. This is to be achieved through second stage of the program, consisting of commercial operation of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). In the second stage, once sufficient inventory of Plutonium239 is built up, Thorium232 will be introduced as a blanket material to be converted to Uranium233.

The Uranium233 is enriched enough to either start life again from Phase 1 or be used as is on other miniature reactor cores.

It was recently that we have commercialised Phase I and Phase II. Phase III needs some time now. We can generate a significant amounts of weapons grade fissile material from Phase II FBRs. That is where the juicy stuff lies.

The enriched uranium extracted is enriched enough to build small (relatively) naval (heavily modified) PWR cores for out Arihant and Aridaman. Those boomers will carry Pu warheads from the Phase III. Though this is not the primary objective of our nuclear program but still ....

As for primary objective, costs of Indian PHWRs are concerned, the overnight costs of 220 MWe reactors at 2007 prices have been in the range of Rs. 6.2 to 6.5
crore/MWe, while that of 540 MWe reactors has been about Rs. 6.0 crore/MWe at 2007 prices. The overnight cost of the 700 MWe reactors to be set up is estimated to be about of Rs. 5.4 crore/MWe (excluding finance cost and escalation), which is comparable to other reactors in the world.

Who is this legend btw?
The newest jester of town. @gslv mk3 is having a great time making him dance. Jokes apart, this guy can make even the most serious guy burst laughing. But I won't engage with him often on a serious thread.
 
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agni series only has two opration missile. agni 1 and agni 2. agni 3 is technology demostrator. agni 4 was big fail. agni 5 will take dacade to develop.

k series is pipe dream. no missiles are developed. nor does india has submarin for k missile.

all you hear in indian media is indian gov propaganda and lies.

so poor india is big fail in missiles.



vedic holy cow technology.



indian missiles are very ugly looking.


pakistan also has nukes on cruise missiles but indians don't.

You are my favourite poster in PDF :cheers:

@OT,

India seems to have abandoned the defensive nuclear posturing since around 2010, after what seems to be a major policy shift. Indian military command now believes in not using nukes merely for deterrence, but for fighting a comprehensive nuclear war on multiple levels, just like Pakistan.

Since then, India has rapidly evolved its nuclear weapons-related infrastructure at breakneck speed. At least half a dozen new nuclear weapons storage sites have been spotted in Indian states along Pakistani border and at major Naval bases. Thats why we now see ex- and present Indian officials suggesting abandonment of the NFU and preemptive decapitation strikes. (not so) Surprisingly, there seems to be almost no activity against China in this regard.

This sets a very dangerous precedent for the future of the subcontinent.

Agreed
 
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Both india and pakistan isn't nuclear power house anymore,i agreed both have nukes. But see what kim did recently,demonstrated a working thermo nuclear device.

Wanna join hands in turning the tables on lil' kim? You go first, we'll follow later. Deal?
 
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Doesn't it seems obvious. Earlier this decade and the one before, we worked hard to strengthen our civil nuclear reactors. Went through painstakingly slow learning curve and developmental cycles. Closed loop three phase cycle is now reaping benefits.

For the un-initiated here is how it works. The first stage comprises of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors fuelled by natural uranium. Natural uranium contains only 0.7% of Uranium235, which undergoes fission to release energy (200Mev/atom). The remaining 99.3% comprises Uranium238 which is not fissile however it is converted in the nuclear reactor, to fissile element Pu 239. In the fission process, among other fission products, a small quantity of Plutonium239 is formed by transmutation of Uranium238.

The second stage, comprising of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) are fuelled by mixed oxide of Uranium238 and Plutonium239, recovered by reprocessing of the
first stage spent fuel. In FBRs, Plutonium239 undergoes fission producing energy, and producing Plutonium239 by transmutation of Uranium238. Thus the FBRs
produce energy and fuel, hence termed Breeders. FBRs produce more fuel than they consume. Over a period of time, Plutonium inventory can be built up by feeding
Uranium238.

Thorium232, which constitutes world’s third largest reserves in India, is not fissile therefore needs to be converted to a fissile material, Uranium233, by
transmutation in a fast breeder reactor. This is to be achieved through second stage of the program, consisting of commercial operation of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). In the second stage, once sufficient inventory of Plutonium239 is built up, Thorium232 will be introduced as a blanket material to be converted to Uranium233.

The Uranium233 is enriched enough to either start life again from Phase 1 or be used as is on other miniature reactor cores.

It was recently that we have commercialised Phase I and Phase II. Phase III needs some time now. We can generate a significant amounts of weapons grade fissile material from Phase II FBRs. That is where the juicy stuff lies.

The enriched uranium extracted is enriched enough to build small (relatively) naval (heavily modified) PWR cores for out Arihant and Aridaman. Those boomers will carry Pu warheads from the Phase III. Though this is not the primary objective of our nuclear program but still ....

As for primary objective, costs of Indian PHWRs are concerned, the overnight costs of 220 MWe reactors at 2007 prices have been in the range of Rs. 6.2 to 6.5
crore/MWe, while that of 540 MWe reactors has been about Rs. 6.0 crore/MWe at 2007 prices. The overnight cost of the 700 MWe reactors to be set up is estimated to be about of Rs. 5.4 crore/MWe (excluding finance cost and escalation), which is comparable to other reactors in the world.
You're missing the point, its not about the amount of fissionable material or number of reactors. India already had enough fissionable material to build hundreds of more nukes if needed.

Its about deployment strategies.
 
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