India tests underwater missile

[t-birds]

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NEW DELHI - India tested a nuclear-capable missile designed to be launched from a submarine, in a move aimed at expanding India's ability to respond in case of a nuclear attack, officials said Tuesday.

It was unclear if the testing was successful.

"We are still awaiting reports from the testing site," said Gen. Umang Kapoor, a spokesman for the state-run Defense Research and Development Organization, which carried out the test.

The missile has a range of 435 miles and was test-fired from an underwater platform immersed in the Bay of Bengal. India is building a nuclear-powered submarine expected to start sea trials next year. It would be able to launch ballistic missiles.

Submarine-launched ballistic missiles would give India second strike capabilities if its land- or air-based weapons were disabled.

India's current crop of missiles includes the short-range Prithvi ballistic missile, the medium-range Agni and Akash missiles, the anti-tank Nag and the supersonic Brahmos missile, developed jointly with Russia.

[t-birds]

Gates visit here coincided with the announcement that India had tested a nuclear-capable missile, fired from an underwater platform in the Bay of Bengal. It was unclear if the test was successful.

Asked about the test, Gates said, "We have to deal with the world as we find it."

He added that, "I don't think there is ... risk particularly from our standpoint in doing that, I think that we have a lot of opportunities in the interaction with India."

India is building a nuclear-powered submarine expected to start sea trials next year. It would be able to launch ballistic missiles, which would give India second strike capabilities if its land- or air-based weapons were disabled.

Gates met with the prime minister, the minister of external affairs and other elected officials in the parliamentary government.

His visit comes during a somewhat volatile time in the region. Talks have stalled on a landmark nuclear cooperation pact between India and the United States, and New Delhi continues to eye nervously the ongoing unrest and terrorism threats in neighboring Pakistan.

Gates said that while he believes the nuclear agreement "is a good deal for both countries," his visit is independent of the ongoing negotiations. Still, he said, "We certainly are hopeful that India can get done what it needs to, so that we can get it done and get this agreement completed."

While neither subject was a major topic on the agenda for Gates' sessions with Indian officials, they are unquestionably linked with efforts to broaden India's military cooperation with the U.S. And officials are likely to seek out India's perception of the level of stability in Pakistan, where embattled President Pervez Musharraf's party was upended in recent elections, triggering questions about his future in office.

[Jliu]

any idea, what we are doing about this, ?

Nothing. Pakistan already possesses an adequate deterrent capability.

[kidwaibhai]

i think that pakistan does need a second strike capability.

[Munir]

Within certain time you will hear abou Babur having same possibility... Or we will show a even more advanced option. Unfortunately we have the dumbest politicians on earth.

[IceCold]

Nothing. Pakistan already possesses an adequate deterrent capability.

I kinda doubt it. Reason is the first time this missile was fired, PN chief was quite furious about it and expressed his deepest concerns that it will trigger an arms race hinting Pakistan would not sit idle while the strategic balance shifts in India's favour. I don't think Pakistan will sit idle relying on the land based nuclear deterrent considering the fact that country lacks strategic depth and nuclear assets are prone to an air assault.

[mughaljee]

Pakistan would not sit idle,
quite right, some one have information , what we are doing in this way.
share please.

[xishan786]

Yeah do share, by the way reponse of Naval chief was a bit surprising as when baur was first tested it was I think D Samar or some one from his organisation said version for all three forces would be devloped. Army had it first now air force also had its air launched cruise misile, and I dont think navy surface ships would find it that difficlt to adjust but yes surely submerged firing would take some time, and hopefully we would soon get some good news. If I am not wrong some time back some one from maritime complex said that some tests were going on.

and by the way how this would give second strike capbiliy to india?? Nuclear submarines can only provide second strike capibilty as the an wander alla round world and u just dont know where they are so in case of emergeny they can come back and strike- thats what they call second strike capibilty and this pakistan can manage atleast for india by the help of muslim friends if plan care fully u can doc any where from malaysia to saudi arabia. and may be our politicnas are dumbest but surely our millitry strategists are not.

Anyways lets hope for some good news in this regard as well.

[su-47]

guys chill. the test was probably unsuccessful, or partially successful. otherwise the whole inident would have been front page news, like the successful testing of agni3 and ABM system.

[IceCold]

Yeah do share, by the way reponse of Naval chief was a bit surprising as when baur was first tested it was I think D Samar or some one from his organisation said version for all three forces would be devloped. Army had it first now air force also had its air launched cruise misile, and I dont think navy surface ships would find it that difficlt to adjust but yes surely submerged firing would take some time, and hopefully we would soon get some good news. If I am not wrong some time back some one from maritime complex said that some tests were going on.

and by the way how this would give second strike capbiliy to india?? Nuclear submarines can only provide second strike capibilty as the an wander alla round world and u just dont know where they are so in case of emergeny they can come back and strike- thats what they call second strike capibilty and this pakistan can manage atleast for india by the help of muslim friends if plan care fully u can doc any where from malaysia to saudi arabia. and may be our politicnas are dumbest but surely our millitry strategists are not.

Anyways lets hope for some good news in this regard as well.

Muslim nations can surely allow you to dock but to fire a nuclear missile while the sub is still in their territorial waters, i doubt it. Reason being if we fire it from our sub, India will consider it as an act of war dragging that particular country into war as well not to mention India's nuclear reaction on it.

[xishan786]

Yes You are right ice cold that they may not, but i dont think it was with refernce to second strike capibilities - Allah forbid a scence where we had been wiped out- Obviously second strike capibilities relate to planning to tkae enemy few thousand years back if not complete wipe out. I think this fear is the base of deterrence for striking first aka second strike capibility.

and by the way though all of this is hypothetical but do u think u will plan second strike capiblity so low that india cab exsist let alone can strike back after it?

[gessler]

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guys chill. the test was probably unsuccessful, or partially successful. otherwise the whole inident would have been front page news, like the successful testing of agni3 and ABM system.

yeah man, i guess what they'll do after we test Agni-5 ICBM...perhaps pak will build an ICBM!!! hahahh!!