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New Delhi, 22 January 2003
On
30 Dec 2002 President Musharraf had publicly stated that
he was prepared to use atomic weapons in case of a war with India.
“I personally conveyed messages to Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, through every international leader who came to Pakistan,
that if Indian troops moved a single step across the International
Border (IB) or LoC, they should not expect a conventional war from
Pakistan.”
On
4th January India's National Security Cabinet Committee (NSCC)
formally announced India’s long awaited Nuclear Weapons Command
and Control Structure and approved the appointment of a three star
Strategic Force Commander (SFC), which the Air Force had been
pressing for. The SFC will have component commanders from the Air
Force and Army under him. India’s defence policy is reactive to
Pakistan’s overtures, while rightly India’s long-term threat
encompasses China, which is a formidable nuclear power.
The
CCS met to discuss Musharraf’s statement and analysts have
inferred that it his boast that egged Indian Leaders to formalise
its long overdue nuclear structure. However in early January itself,
despite the heated rhetoric, India and Pakistan diplomatically
exchanged lists of nuclear installations for the 12th
consecutive year, under the aegis of a special agreement signed in
1988, which prohibits India and Pakistan from attacking each others
nuclear facilities. India’s External Affairs Minister of State
Digvijay Singh, confirmed in Parliament, that India would not
undertake any more nuclear tests. The background deserves recall and
we had received comments, which we present with the hope that the
Nuclear Command converts India's nuclear teeth into fangs.
Air
Marshal T M Asthana India's first Strategic Force Commander continues
to sit in Vayu Bhavan, his old home as Deputy Chief and has his
nuclear home work cut out. He will report to Admiral Madhvendra
Singh in South Block and new pastures and procedures in Nuclear
second strike ability will have to be made out, if India sticks to
its professed "No First Strike Doctrine". Admiral
Madhvendra Singh indicated that each service would train and retain
its nuclear deterrent and so the task will be even more challenging.
NSA Brajesh Mishra as head of the Executive Council will guide the
proceedings and as Head of the Nuclear Command Authority the PM will
hold the trigger.
In
any case forming another Nuclear Service with planes and missiles
will be a costly affair. So far it was only the IAF that has
practiced Nuclear Toss Bombing with dummies and had the proven
capability and soon the few DRDO Agnis would be added to the Nuclear
delivery arsenal. The Army will provide the manpower to the DRDO for
the Agnis. Media claims that the 333 Missile Group of Prithvis is
nuclear capable but analysts are skeptical. Hence the IAF,
especially under ACM A Y Tipnis, had pitched for the Nuclear Command
for starters as they stated the IAF could easily train, command
and control the few assets and accept responsibility –– on the
principle that he who holds the assets and trains also accepts
responsibility. There was opposition to that line of thinking of the
IAF. The Naval triad is some distance away.
Presently
the Indian manned airborne platforms of the strategic
"triad" spearheaded by the Mirage 2000, provide the more
flexible arm of the newly created Indian Strategic Forces Command.
Capable of delivering a punishing "second strike" on any
potential rogue nuclear aggressor, the manned airborne platforms are
also capable of delivering a "pre-emptive strike" on enemy
nuclear arsenals or their communication, command and control nodes,
to disable them from launching a "first strike" on Indian
forces or homeland.
Possibly from the very start the IAF judiciously decided to convert
some of its Mirage 2000H/TH for the nuclear strike role. The Mirage
2000 is inherently well suited to the task. The fly-by-wire controls
and small canard type foreplanes on the air intake trunks of Mirage
2000 allow it to secure the advantages of a delta platform,
especially in terms of high fuel storage, increased manoeuvrability,
less control surfaces and low RCS (Radar Cross Section). Again
instabilities that arise during low-altitude penetration with
significant payloads are minimised.
Thus,
as the IAF started converting the Mirage 2000, the standard livery
generally associated with air defence variants changed to
"camouflage" external body paint. It was widely rumoured
that Antilope 5 terrain-following radar, similar to one fitted on
French Mirage 2000N nuclear strike platforms, had been installed on
IAF Mirage 2000H/TH along with reinforced radomes and twin INS
(Inertial Navigation System). Optimum performance during
nap-of-the-earth penetration of enemy airspace and strike is thus
facilitated, powered by single yet excellent SNECMA M-53-P2 engine.
For self-protection, a comprehensive ESM/ECM (Electronic Support
Measures/Electronic Counter Measures) suite backs the formidable
defensive weaponry.
To
augment its present two squadrons of Mirage 2000H/TH, based in
Gwalior, the IAF has already ordered additional ten Mirage 2000H/THs
and more importantly is considering mass procurement and license
production of the more advanced Mirage 2000-5 Mk2. Optimised for
true multi-role missions, Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 is equipped with Thales
RDY multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar and incorporates APSI (Advanced
Pilot/System Interface) in having a "glass cockpit" with
HOTAS (Hand On Throttle And Stick) and colour MFDs (Multi-Function
Displays). One of the MFD is "head-level" for tactical
situational awareness that displays processed information from
sensors and systems which may be flashed on HUD (Head Up Display) if
necessary. Equipped with an integrated countermeasures suite and
multi-function data link, night and adverse weather capability is
provided by Thales Nahar FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red). Surface
strike capability will be greatly enhanced if Litening 2 pod is
integrated.
The
IAF Mirage 2000 will be backed by Jaguars in daytime and clear
weather conditions with their combination of DARIN (Display Attack
and Ranging Inertial Navigation) and HUD/WAC (Head Up Display/Weapon
Aiming Computer) facilitate very accurate delivery of air-to-ground
ordnance.
The
IAF Sukhoi-30 MKI will provide the "top cover" while
penetrating heavily defended airspace and will escort the strike
fleet of Mirage 2000 and Jaguars. The airframes and engines of
Sukhoi-30 MKI are optimised for operations in medium to high
altitudes, although their advanced avionics permit them to mount
nuclear strike if situation demands. Again AWACS (Airborne Warning
And Control System), or better still MC2A (Multi-role Command and
Control Aircraft) platforms are necessary to guide the "strike
package" in avoiding the enemy air defence platforms and
installations, thus to facilitate safe ingress and egress.
A
strong force of manned airborne platforms for nuclear strike
missions is necessary for flexibility of our nuclear doctrine.
Although from an idealistic point of view, "no first use"
seems to be the desirable option, ground realities especially in
dealing with a rouge and bullish nuclear adversary may force us to
change our stand. The option of a "pre-emptive strike"
should be kept open with adequate sensors and intelligence machinery
deployed to intercept an enemy's attempt to launch a "first
strike".
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