Background
India possesses IRBMs as does its strategic adversary Pakistan. The border dispute with Pakistan over the Kashmir region makes it even more difficult to estimate strategic developments. Although it is changing, India remains dependent on Russia for the joint development of high-tech weapons.
India’s first nuclear test was conducted in 1974 and it tested its first nuclear weapon in 1998. It continues to steadily build its nuclear arsenal. India has up to 100 nuclear warheads in its arsenal.
Current Developments
There are major weapons acquisitions programs under way. The USA and Russia are the major suppliers of modern technologies. At this time the Indian Navy is not yet nuclear capable.
India has expressed an interest in purchasing and
perhaps producing a domestic variant of the Israeli Iron Dome anti-rocket
system.
The Prithvi Air Defense (PAD) is
a liquid and solid fueled two stage ballistic missile defense system that is
designed to intercept at a high altitude. The system is based on the Prithvi
missile. PAD is said to have a maximum interception altitude of 80km.
The PAD is
currently being developed by India, and it is expected to be
operational by 2014.
India’s Advanced Air Defense (AAD) system is an
endo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor. AAD is a short-range,
ground-launched, missile defense system and is also believed to
be designed to intercept cruise missiles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
and aircraft. It is designed as a hit-to-kill system when used against short range
ballistic missiles (SRBM). Some reports suggest that AAD will be deployed
within the next three to five years, while others indicate that it will take
longer.
Capabilities
India has over 100 IRBMs and is advancing its capabilities by developing the Agni-III IRBM. India currently possesses operational SLBMs. India’s s growing strategic role can also be seen in some of the current acquisitions.
India has the AAD interceptor which comprises the
lower tier, and the higher-altitude, two-stage Prithvi Air Defense (PAD)
interceptor currently comprises the upper tier. Like the U.S. Patriot system,
both of these Indian systems intercept ballistic missiles in the so-called
terminal phase, in which the incoming missiles are descending toward their
target.
In addition to these systems, India possess Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries.