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New
Delhi, 20 October 2002
Mr
Sayan Mazumdar, a regular visitor to our website, sent us the
following comments on Ballistic Missile Defence. The importance and
feasibility of a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system in which an
intruder missile is detected and intercepted during the
launch-cum-boost phase –– detection by a space-based platform
(satellite) and interception by a UAV launched laser guided missile,
had reported by us in our International Mediawatch. We had also
analysed the concept in two articles –– ‘Arrow and India’
dated 25 Jul 02 and ‘Let India Have Arrow Too’, which is still
on our home page.
An
important point to bear in mind is –– the time for missiles to
fly from Pakistan to India is so miniscule i.e. around 4 to 6
minutes to cross the border, that in theory no missile can be
intercepted with certainty, with the technology available or likely
to be available to us in the near future. This scenario had been
thrashed out in Staff Colleges around the world in the 70s, hence
the principle of deterrence by MAD. Moreover, for UAVs to operate in
the vicinity of the enemy BM launching sites, a certain amount of
air superiority too is required. Yet, what Sayan has propounded, has
a lot of merit and we hope our Defence planners and Scientific
establishment are thinking on these lines. We thank him for raising
the level of debate and hope he will continue to air his worthy
views through our Website:
“While
the Indian Armed Forces are trying to build up a credible ATBM
(Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile) system on basis of deployment of
Russian S-300V and/or Israeli Arrow II ATBM, serious efforts should
be made to develop a credible Boost-Phase Intercept System. Such a
system possesses the greatest chance of success against attacking
ballistic missiles as far as present day technology is concerned.
During boost-phase the attacking ballistic missile is comparatively
slower and at the same time a source of considerable IR (Infra-Red)
radiation and thus easily detectable by aerial source or by
satellites. Decoys are yet to be fielded, making interception
easier. Moreover, the attacking missile destroyed at that stage
falls on the aggressor's territory along the NBC (Nuclear,
Biological, Chemical) payload. In this context the deterrent value
of a Boost-Phase Intercept System is well apparent.
Although
it is technologically highly complex and costly prohibitive for us
to deploy an airborne laser system to destroy attacking ballistic
missiles, similar to the system that is being fielded by United
States aboard a modified Boeing 747, cheaper alternatives may be
explored. An Israeli missile system termed as Moab, funded by United
States BMDO (Ballistic Missile Defence Organisation) is being
developed. This missile is designed to intercept attacking ballistic
missiles during boost phase and is fired
from an UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) flying at high altitude. The
critical point is the extent of co operation of the Israelis with us
in this matter, withstanding pressure from United States.”
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