Under my ?Pakistan?s upgrading Shaheen 2 nuclear missile? [hyperlink] post, Anonymous commented, June 4, 2007, about the following statement from WorldNetDaily [hyperlink]: ?(Indian Defense Research and Development Organisation) DRDO officials said the Surya?s test would consist of a single-stage liquid-fueled rocket ?based on cryogenic engine technology?.?
Said Anonymous: ?Actually any Indian long range missile would be totally solid fueled based. True, ICBM range could be achieved by adding a third stage to the Agni-3.This could be done in a few months if India desired such a long range weapon. It has had advanced solid fuel technology for many years. The first stage engine of the PSLV satellite launcher is one of the largest solid boosters in the world. The Indian cryo engine is being developed by VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) not the DRDO and would be used on an ISRO rocket, the GSLV-Mk3. This is a satellite launcher. Cryo isn?t suitable for a modern ballistic missile. LOX/LH2 is quite cumbersome with fixed facilities. An ICBM based on this would need hours to be fueled from one known location. It would be vulnerable to a first strike. The Indian deterrent is designed to be survivable?rail mobile and, eventually submarine based. The Indian Navy seeks an interim solution?ship based ballistic missiles. This is the Dhanush missile being launched from a patrol boat. It carries the same 15kT nuclear warhead developed for the Prithvi. This is the underwater pontoon launcher developed by the DRDO for undersea launch of ballistic missiles. Its diameter is compatible with the Agni-3. One would expect a three stage SLBM version. The pontoon launcher has reportedly been used for at least one successful underwater missile launch test.?
Anonymous has advised that when Indian nuclear weapons are on submarines, immediate commanders (Captains) will effectively have more autonomy on weapons use than land commanders:
?[on land] Indian warheads are kept in separate facilities from the delivery systems. The fissile Plutonium pits are not inserted into the warheads. They are in the custody of the civilian DAE (Department of Atomic Energy), who fabricated them. At one time they were all in the bomb vault at the civilian BARC complex in Mumbai (Bombay). General Sunderji, the former Army Chief, was allowed to see an actual weapon just once, when he was allowed into the underground facility. Reportedly, the warheads and pits are now dispersed around India, in various underground vaults. A regimental colonel can?t even launch an unarmed ballistic missile without the authorization codes.
?The first service in India that will have control of actual assembled weapons will be the Navy, when they commission the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) nuclear submarine with its cruise missiles.?
?Pete?s Intelligence Blog Spyingbadthings.blogspot.com