BALLISTIC MISSILE

BALLISTIC MISSILE

INTRODUCTION

Unique among the countries of Asia, India finds itself threatened by two nuclear powers - China and Pakistan. The latter, using thinly-veiled nuclear blackmail tactics, has embarked upon a campaign of terror against India and considers itself immune from Indian retaliation thanks to its nuclear weapons.

To counter this dual threat, India must make a comprehensive ballistic missile defence system one of its major defence priorities. Indeed, an effective missile defence network, covering all major military, infrastructure and civilian targets could render the spectre of Indian cities being incinerated by a lunatic regime in Pakistan somewhat less likely and would offer a considerable buffer for India when considering the nuclear asymmetry vs. China.

It is no secret - thanks to the ever speculative Indian media - that India has expressed considerable interest in a number of anti-missile systems and has made some small purchases of ballistic missile defence technologies. Moreover, DRDO has often expressed the hope that its Akash SAM could offer the potential for development into an effective anti-missile system and has confirmed that it is working on a two-tiered missile defence network.

DRDO efforts aside, it is clear that imported systems would greatly accelerate Indian BMD ambitions and to this end, India is examining the Israeli Arrow, the Almaz design bureau's S-300 PMU-1/-2 and S-400 and the Antey design bureau's Antey 2500/ S-300VM.

This article will examine India's various BMD options and attempt to speculate on an effective combination for the comprehensive defence of India.

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