IDN TAKE: Why India Can Defend Itself From Pakistani Missiles

[Zarvan]

One of the greatest threats facing India today is the increasing proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction in the region. India’s nuclear-armed bellicose neighbors, namely China and Pakistan, have significant cruise and ballistic missile capabilities. China and North Korea continue to proliferate on a wide scale and could increase in the long run as the technology is transferred. A rogue nation like Pakistan make these investments because ballistic missiles provides it with the means to project power both in a regional and strategic context and a capability to launch an attack on India from a distance. However, there are several reasons to doubt that Pakistan will ever launch a ballistic missile at India. Perhaps the most important relates to attribution – a missile launch could be easily detected, and retaliation would be swift and brutal, at least as far as the purpose of PM Modi's government is concerned.

India has initiated a demonstrable indigenous capability in Theater Ballistic Missile Defense system, a step to predominantly protect India from enemy ballistic missile attacks. The Advanced Air Defence (AAD) "Ashvin" Missile defence technology being developed by DRDO is designed to counter ballistic missiles of varying ranges namely short, medium, intermediate and long. Since ballistic missiles have different ranges, speeds, size and performance characteristics, the AAD system has an integrated, “layered” architecture that provides multiple opportunities to destroy missiles and their warheads before they can reach their targets. Due to a realistic threat perception from its chief adversaries Pakistan and China, the need for a comprehensive and convincing protective cover became imperative.

India on May 15th, 2016 successfully test-fired its indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile, which is capable of terminaating incoming hostile ballistic missiles. With this latest development, India has become the fourth country after US, Russia and Israel to have successfully developed a ballistic missile defence system. Considered to be an important technological milestone,the indigenous system will largely negate Pakistan’s strategic striking capability in the country.

The AAD battery could be armed with arbitrary mixes of these missiles (both Endo-Exo atmospheric) to optimise its terminal capability for a specific threat environment.

Design characteristics of DRDO's Advanced Air Defence System: Designed to KILL:
Defeating threats at high, low and very low altitudes. Deployment of both endo and exo atomospheric kill vehicles, integrated exo and endo-atmospheric systems to offer a hit-to-kill probability of 99.8 per cent;
Characterized mission requirements by establishing a ‘denial area’ at ‘acceptable risk’ that refers to that area of overall coverage;
Dealing with the increased target quantities;
Dealing with the overall reduction of target signatures resulting from the use of stealth technology;
Networked sensors (including future space-based) and ground and sea-based radars (future development) for target detection and tracking;
Ground and sea-based interceptor missiles for destroying a ballistic missile using either the force of a direct collision, called “hit-to-kill” technology, or an explosive blast fragmentation warhead;
Ensuring jamming immunity due to the adaptation of advanced radar base to tactical and ECM environments;
Developed an open system modular architecture with the provision for follow-on capability growth in the overall design;
Developed Command, control, battle management, and communications network providing the operational commanders with the needed links between the sensors and interceptor missiles;
All Pakistani missiles re-entry velocity is very lowas they are based on 1980s technology supplied by China & North Korea (primarily based on the Soviet SCUD system) resulting in a high kill probability with Multiple Shots: Shoot-Look-Shoot Firing scenario;
Developed a highly sophisticated primary software system;
High operational mobility and deployability;
Deployment of key early warning radar installations across the country to protect against potential threats. Future sea based radars located in the Indian Ocean to support flight testing and real-time defensive operations;

CONCLUSION

Testing must account for the ever-changing ballistic missile threat scenarios and the latest technological developments. Ground and flight tests should provide data for highly advanced modeling and simulation activities that allows the scientists to measure and predict the performance of all missile defence technologies. Successful and foolproof flight tests in multiple simulated modes can impart greater confidence in the system’s capabilities. Because of the exorbitantly high costs, it would at best be able to provide protection to only a small number of its high-value politico-strategic assets, considered to be vital for the Nation’s survival. The very issue of national survival makes it mandatory for India to acquire BMD capabilities against our two nuclear armed irritants, and to this effect the system is bound to ensure our safety & security.

Admin - IDN

http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/05/idn-take-why-india-can-defend-itself.html?m=1