India and weapons of mass destruction

India is believed to possess an arsenal of nuclear weapons and maintains intermediate-range ballistic missiles to deliver them. Though India 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[1] [2][3][4]. Weaponsgrade plutonium production is believed to be taking place at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, which is home to the CIRUS reactor acquired from Canada, to the indigenous Dhruva reactor, and to a plutonium separation facility. According to a January 2001 U.S Department of Defense report, "India probably has a small stockpile of nuclear weapon components and could assemble and deploy a few nuclear weapons within a few days to a week." A 2001 RAND study by Ashley Tellis asserts that India does not have or seek to deploy a ready nuclear arsenal.[2] According to a report in Jane's Intelligence Review (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.[2]

Contents

1 Nuclear Weapons o 1.1 Brief Historical Overview o 1.2 Current Arsenal and Estimates of Force Inventory

3 4

5 6 7 8 9

Doctrine o Command and Control o International Treaties o Delivery Systems 1.6.1 Ballistic Missiles 1.6.2 Cruise Missiles 1.6.3 Air to Air Missiles Nuclear Submarines o 2.1 Advanced Technology Vessel o 2.2 Leasing of Soviet/Russian submarines o 2.3 INS Sindhuvijay o 2.4 The Akula Class Submarines Nuclear Aircraft Defensive Missiles o 4.1 Air Defense o 4.2 Anti Ballistic Missiles Foreign assistance Chemical Weapons Biological Warfare Gallery References
o

1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

10 External links

Nuclear Weapons
Brief Historical Overview

The AGNI III in 2003 As early as June 26, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, soon to be India's first Prime Minister, announced:

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.[5]

India's first Nuclear test occurred on 18 May 1974. Since then India has conducted another series of test at the Pokhran test range in the state of Rajasthan in 1998. India has an extensive civil and military nuclear program, which includes at least 10 nuclear reactors, uranium mining and milling sites, heavy water production facilities, a uranium enrichment plant, fuel fabrication facilities, and extensive nuclear research capabilities.

Current Arsenal and Estimates of Force Inventory

Nuclear capable Agni-III missile

It is widely estimated that India currently has approximately 200 warheads.[1] 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.[2]. David Albright's report published by Institute for Science and International Security on 2000 estimates that India at end of 1999 had 310 kilograms of weapon grade 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. By the end of 2004, he estimates India had 445 kilograms of weapon grade plutonium which is enough for around 85 nuclear weapons considering 5 kg of plutonium required for each weapon[6] Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) believes that India has a stockpile of about 30 to 35 nuclear warheads and claims that India is producing additional nuclear materials.[7] Former RAW official J.K. Sinha claimed that India has capability to produce 130 kilograms of weapon grade plutonium from six unsafeguarded reactors not included in nuclear deal between India and United States.[8] Joseph Cirincione at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace estimates that India has produced enough weaponsgrade plutonium for 50-90 nuclear weapons and a smaller but unknown quantity of weapons-grade uranium

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 Strategic Nuclear Command was formally established in 2003, with an Air Force officer, Air Marshall Asthana, as the Commander-inChief. The joint services SNC is the custodian of all of India's nuclear weapons, missiles 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 Prime Minister who has his finger "on the button".

International Treaties
India is not a signatory to either the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), but did accede to the Partial Test Ban Treaty in October 1963. India is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (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 General Assembly Resolution[9] which urged all non-signatories of the treaty to accede to it at the earliest possible date.[10]

India voted against the UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the CTBT, which was adopted on September 10, 1996. India objected to the lack of provision for universal nuclear disarmament "within a timebound 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 United States is now willing to provide India access to civilian nuclear technology through the 2006 United StatesIndia Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act, 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.

Delivery Systems
Ballistic Missiles

Ballistic Missiles

India is only the fourth country that has Anti Ballistic capability called in India as the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program or the AAD. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (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 (PSLV) 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:

Prithvi.

Prithvi-1 Test Flight 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 Indian Navy, a 350-kilometer version of the Prithvi is under development. The new system is being called the Dhanush, 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[1] 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.

Agni.

Agni Missile on Display

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 missiles that have a range of the 2500 to 3500kilometers. 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 [11] 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.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.[12] The SLBM version is a miniaturized version of the Agni-III which is expected to be test fired shortly

Surya.

The Surya ICBM is an ICBM 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 Indias 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.

Sagarika Sagarika is a nuclear capable submarine-launched ballistic missile 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.[14]. The development of this missile started in 1991. The first confirmation about the missile came in 1998[15] The development of the underwater missile launcher know as the Project 78 (P78) was completed in 2001. This was handed over to the Indian Navy 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.[16] 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. Cruise Missiles

BrahMos

BrahMos on Display 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

Astra(Sanskrit: , Astr "Weapon") is an active radar homing Beyond visual range air to air missile (BVRAAM) or a Beyond Visual Range missile 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.

Nuclear Submarines

Brahmos Missiles on display in Moscow

the leased former cruise missile Submarine INS Chakra 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.[18] Once the vessel is completed, it may be equipped with nuclear capable Dhanush or Sagarika missiles and an advanced sonar system. However, according to some analysts the most probable missile for the Indian submarine would be the nuclear capable Brahmos anti-ship cruise missile designed jointly by India and Russia, based on the Yakhont missile by NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

Advanced Technology Vessel

The Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine being constructed for the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, India.[19][20] The ATV is an SSBN and will be armed with the ballistic missiles like the Sagarika missile, or the submarine variant of the 5000 km range Agni-III missile.[20] As of July 2007, the Sagarika/K-15 missile was reported to have undergone three successful tests.

Leasing of Soviet/Russian submarines

In 1988 INS Chakra, a Charlie-class submarine was leased by the Indian Navy for three years from the Soviet Union, until 1991. From 2000, negotiations between India and Russia were conducted into the leasing of two uncomplete Akula class. The Akulas are to be delivered to the Indian Navy in 2008 on a lease of at least seven years, and up to ten years. The acquisition is to help the Indian Navy prepare for the induction of the ATV. The cost to India of acquiring two Akula submarines and their support infrastructure along with training of the crews had been estimated at $2 billion.[21]

Former leased cruise missile submarine

INS Sindhuvijay
The INS Sindhuvijay diesel-electric submarine capable of launching Klub-S missile tests and the nuclear capable BrahMos missile is being refit by the Russian Navy. The Russian 3M-54 Klub is a multi-role missile system developed by the Novator Design Bureau(OKB-8). Its NATO reporting name is SS-N-27. Both submarine and surface ship launched versions exist. The system is designed to accept various warheads, allowing its use against surface and subsurface naval combatants along with static land targets. In one variant, the 3M-54E (Sizzler), the final stage makes a supersonic 'sprint' to its target, reducing the time the target's defense systems have to react. The 3M54E1 subsonic missile is roughly comparable to both the American Tomahawk cruise missile and the ASROC missile but is smaller and has a shorter range.

The Akula Class Submarines

ATV and INS Chakra are based on Akula Class Submarines India is reportedly paying two billion dollars for the completion of two Akula-II class submarines which were 40-60% completed.[22] Three hundred Indian Navy personnel are being trained in Russia for the operation of these submarines. India has finalized a deal with Russia, in which at the end of the lease of these submarines, it has an option to buy them.The first submarine will be named INS Chakra. Whereas the Russian Navy's Akula-II submarine is equipped with 28 nuclearcapable cruise missiles with a striking range of 3,000 kilometers, the Indian version was reportedly expected to be armed with the 300 km range 3M-54 Klub nuclear-capable missiles. Missiles with ranges greater than 300 kilometers cannot be exported due to arms control restrictions, since Russia is a signatory to the MTCR treaty but the Rusian Indian nuclear cruise missile - BrahMos missile will feature too.This will also be fitted with Indian developed nuclear SLBM sagarika with 750km range

Nuclear Aircraft
In 2003, India and Russia signed a 1.9 billion pound deal in which 4 Tupolev Tu-22M were leased to India - four Tu22 M3 long-range aircraft - capable of dropping nuclear bombs. They currently serve for Indian Navy and are used regularly to test fly in the Indian Ocean

Defensive Missiles
Air Defense

Akash

An Akash missile being test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR). Akash is a surface-to-air missile with an intercept 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 Mach 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 ramjet propulsion system that enables sustained speeds without deceleration throughout its flight.[25] The Missile as command guidance in its entire flight. The design of the missile is somewhat similar to that of SA-6 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 Ballistic Missiles

PAD and AAD

India is only the fourth country that has Anti Ballistic capability

The testing of an AAD The Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered Ballistic missile defense system to protect India from missile attacks.[27][28]India is only the fourth country that has Anti Ballistic capability called in India as the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program.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 Antiballistic missile system, after United States, Russia and Israel. Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles outside atmosphere (Exoatmosphere).

Based on the Prithvi missile, 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.[30]. 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. 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 Soviet Union according to CIA reports.[32]

Chemical Weapons
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 [CWC] in 1993, and ratified it on 2 September 1996. 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 April 29, 1997. 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 exArmy 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 26 June 1997, 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. 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 25 June 1997, 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

[show]
vde

Indian missiles

PritI II III Dhanush hvi AgniI II III V SSagarika K-15 LBM

India is a signatory to the BWC of 1972. India has a well-developed biotechnology infrastructure that includes numerous pharmaceutical production facilities bio-containment laboratories (including BSL-3 and BSL-4) for working with lethal pathogens. It also has highly qualified scientists with expertise in infectious diseases. Some of Indias facilities are being used to support research and development for BW defense purposes. 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. Work is in progress to prepare responses to threats like Anthrax, Brucellosis, cholera and plague, viral threats like smallpox and viral haemorrhage

fever and biotoxic threats like botulism. Researchers have developed chemical/biological protective gear, including masks, suits, detectors and suitable drugs. India has a 'no first use' policy.

Gallery

Brahmos at the Indian Republic Day Parade Nuclear capable Agni-III missile

Nuclear Submarine Missile Sagarika

An Akash missile being test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Orissa. The launch platform is a BMP-2

vehicle