India has begun to develop a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed submarine to give the nation a sea-based platform for its strategic nuclear deterrent, according to a former head of the Indian navy.
The author argues that U.S. plans to cooperate with India on space technology "risks repeating in India the same errors that previously allowed damaging U.S. space technology transfers to China."
India has served notice that it intends to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile to achieve worldwide reach with its nuclear arsenal.
The US has agreed to help India with its nuclear energy and space technology in return for India's promise to use the assistance for peaceful purposes and to help block the spread of dangerous weapons.
India joined an elite group of nations with the testing of a rocket engine that uses supercooled liquid fuel, a technology that would allow it to launch high-altitude satellites, send a man to the moon -- or build intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Karen Yourish summarizes recent developments with both India and Pakistan's nuclear programs.
Five years after first publicly testing nuclear weapons, India stands at a critical point in its strategic path. It faces today a crucial choice between maintaining a minimal deterrent and expanding its arsenal so as to sustain a Cold War-style posture toward its nuclear adversaries.
India has effective command and control over its atomic arsenal but to ensure effective deterrence of adversaries, it will not reveal additional details on how the system would respond in the event of a nuclear attack, authoritative sources here have said.
Selig Harrison argues that the U.S. should end its double standard with India and provide them with the same civillian nuclear reactor technology they have exported to China to reduce the risk of Indian Chernobyls.
India should deploy most of its nuclear arsenal on naval vessels, primarily submarines, according to Adm. Madhvendra Singh, chief of naval staff.