New Delhi : India celebrates seventh successful test of its home grown " Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)" system and hopes to install an effective interceptor missile shield for the protection of Delhi by 2014. On Friday DRDO successfully demonstrated the interception of two incoming ballistic missiles one of whom was a real target mimicking M-9/M11 class of Chinese Dong Feng short-range ballistic missiles while other was a virtually simulated target of 1500 km range class. While the quantitative aspect of the successful tests is a good confidence booster for the Defense Research establishments as well as for the Country facing so many serious Strategic Challenges from all around.
BMD system itself a very complex technology and no country has yet matured it completely. Effectiveness of these technology is a serious question of debate. BMD is something like a bullet to kill a bullet. Only a handful of such missile batteries are operational world wide and seriously lack credibility to track down and shoot down the incoming threats. Patriot and THAAD Missile defense systems developed by USA, Russia with S-300/400/500 Variants, Israel with AIM, Indian PAD and AAD are some of the systems to count but none of these a 100% reliable solution against mid and long range missiles and almost ineffective against ICBMs. USA even after, had already invested more than hundreds of billions of dollars is still lacking the credibility to shoot down Advanced Russian and Chinese ICBMs. There are several successful and trustworthy counter measures like use of Multiple Independent Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRV) where a number of separate reentry vehicles including the real warhead(s) and dummies enter into the atmosphere of enemy territory and fools the Fire Control Radars to escape identification, interception and hit the target, Several very high velocity ballistic missiles consistently change their speeds, height, and designated trajectory paths and therefore make it almost impossible to track and shoot them, Russia is said to mastered this technology.
In first and second gulf war USA successfully demonstrated interception of some Iraqi Scud missiles in real war situations but Iraqi missile were very outdated and short ranged, which are very easy to intercept and no conclusion can be derived from these successes for their possible defectiveness in today's era of modern warfare. Even today a large number of these tests conducted fail to yield satisfactory results and BMD system is therefore more a psychological warfare than a practical one. But on Psychological prospects, it provides you a distinct advantage over your rival and puts weight in your strategic and diplomatic actions, specially if you already own large armed forces with arsenal of conventional and non-conventional weaponry.
An Anti Ballistic Shield for major Indian Cities, major defense, strategic and economic installations would be a nervous situation for our conventional rivals like Pakistan and China. As we are already a nuclear state with one of the best, sophisticated and modernized armed forces in the world with almost all class of weaponry in our inventory ranging from all classes of Ballistic, Cruise missile to a widest portfolio of air defense infrastructure. In such situations no country would be able to use "Nuclear Blackmailing" for securing its Political and strategic interests as happened after Kargil war and after Operation Prakarm. We will be able to launch limited penetrative attacks inside enemy territory under a nuclear umbrella to break down terrorism infrastructure, training camps etc. and answer enemy in case of hostility like related to border disputes etc. Enemy would find herself in huge dilemma, whenever she thinks of nuclear alternative. Our cities and value assets would be considerably more secured and protected therefore if the enemy opts for a powerful nuclear first strike to blow off our retaliation capability and cause major damage there would be complete uncertainty and darkness about the performance of our BMD system and if it proves at per with its planned objectives and protects maximum of value targets, a powerful retaliation from Indian side (which on the verge of completing a nuclear Triad ) would not leave the enemy anywhere to escape.
The said technology if installed in large numbers would give a new dimension to the foreign policy of our country and would provide spines to our political leadership to take tough stance over issues of border disputes, Kashmir Issue, Pak Occupied Kashmir, Terrorist camps in PAK territory, International Diplomacy, Chinese hostility etc. This technology is not just a technology in itself but a complete game changer. Our Air defense would get considerable boost with the Radar networks, dedicated satellites based launch monitoring systems, secured data networks, 24 hr air surveillance etc. which would make our air defense completely non penetrable at least for our Asian rivals.
In few years India will receive Admiral Gorshkov and Indigenous Aircraft Carrier and along with present INS Viraat, for the first time we will have three operational aircraft carrier, Arihant class nuclear subs already going through sea trial with 4 others under construction. Air force receiving MMRCA winner Rafale aircrafts and Russian made Super Sukhoies (modified su-30) and army with its own huge modernization plans there will be the best time to show muscle power and increase our influence in International Political and Strategic environment. We would be able to optimize our economic and strategic power to influence the world and play some formidable role in international politics and decision making. That will be right time to bid for the permanent membership of security council without any terms and conditions and we would be able to pressure our rivals and secure our political, commercial, economical and Energy interests any where in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment