Editing Strategic Forces Command (section)

== Assets ==
{{see also|Nuclear triad|India and weapons of mass destruction}}
The estimated 68 nuclear warheads<ref name="auto">{{cite journal |title=Indian nuclear forces, 2017 |first1=Hans M.|last1=Kristensen|first2=Robert S.|last2=Norris|journal=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|volume=73|issue=4|pages=205–209|doi=10.1080/00963402.2017.1337998|year = 2017|bibcode=2017BuAtS..73d.205K|doi-access=free}}</ref> of land-based nuclear weapons of India are under the control of and deployed by the Strategic Forces Command,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=155897|title=Successful Test launch of AGNI V|website=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|access-date=2019-08-18}}</ref> using a variety of both vehicles and launching silos. They currently consist of three different types of [[ballistic missile]]s, the [[Agni-I]], the [[Agni-II]], [[Agni-III]], [[Shaurya missile|Shaurya]] and the Army's variant of the [[Prithvi (missile)|Prithvi missile]] family – the Prithvi-I. Additional variants of the Agni missile series have recently been inducted including the most recent, the [[Agni-IV]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/agni-v-to-undergo-one-more-pre-induction-test/story-a9OcIgjWaRUyMbBoSOnM5M.html|title=Agni-V set to be inducted by December after one more test|date=2018-08-14|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> and the [[Agni-VI|Agni-V]], which is currently being deployed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pubby|first=Manu|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/confident-of-doubling-range-of-the-astra-will-be-the-most-lethal-air-to-air-missile-drdo-chief/articleshow/72120351.cms|title=Confident of doubling range of the Astra, will be the most lethal air to air missile: DRDO Chief|date=2019-11-19|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> [[Agni-VI]] is also under development, with an estimated range of 8,000–12,000&nbsp;km and features such as [[Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle]]s (MIRVs) or [[Maneuverable reentry vehicle]]s (MARVs).<ref>{{cite news |title=Advanced Agni-6 missile with multiple warheads likely by 2017 |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/advanced-agni-6-missile-with-multiple-warheads-likely-by-2017-113050800034_1.html |access-date=1 October 2013|newspaper=Business Standard India |date=2013-05-07 |last1=Shukla |first1=Ajai }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Subramanian |first=T.S. |title=Agni-VI all set to take shape |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/agnivi-all-set-to-take-shape/article4379416.ece?homepage=true |access-date=1 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu |date=2013-02-04 }}</ref>
[[File:Agni-V missile during rehearsal of Republic Day Parade 2013.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[Agni-V]] ballistic missile at Republic Day parade.]]

The Prithvi missile inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command in 2003, the first missile to be developed under India’s prestigious IGMDP strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence A missile unit of the elite Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully launched a Prithvi missile on 7 January 2014 from the test range at Chandipur.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=102331 |title=Prithvi Launch Successful |date=7 January 2014 |website=Press Information Bureau, [[Ministry of Defence (India)]]}}</ref>

It was reported by ''Hindustan Times'' on 12 September 2010 that to increase its lethal power, India's tri-services strike force is planning to acquire 40 fighter planes capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The SFC has submitted a proposal to the Defence Ministry for setting up two dedicated squadrons of fighter aircraft which will act as a mini-Air Force. This will be the first time that the SFC, which at present depends on the Indian Air Force for delivering nuclear weapons under its command, will have its own aerial assets.<ref name="HT">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Strategic-Command-to-acquire-40-nuclear-capable-fighters/Article1-599141.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017160849/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Strategic-Command-to-acquire-40-nuclear-capable-fighters/Article1-599141.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Strategic Command to acquire 40 nuclear capable fighters|archivedate=17 October 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ {{bigger|Land-based ballistic missiles}}
|-
! Name
! Type
! Range (km)
! Status
|-
| '''[[Prithvi (missile)|Prithvi-I]]'''{{nbsp|2}} || [[Short-range ballistic missile]] || 150 || rowspan="9" | Deployed
|-
| '''[[Prithvi (missile)|Prithvi-II]]'''{{nbsp|2}} || Short-range ballistic missile || 250–350
|-
| '''[[Prithvi (missile)|Prithvi-III]]'''{{nbsp|2}} || Short-range ballistic missile || 350–600
|-
| '''[[Agni-I]]'''   ||  [[Medium-range ballistic missile]] || 700
|-
| '''[[Shaurya missile|Shaurya]]'''   ||  [[Medium-range ballistic missile]] || 700-1900
|-
| '''[[Agni-II]]'''  || Medium-range ballistic missile || 2,000–3,000
|-
| '''[[Agni-III]]''' || [[Intermediate-range ballistic missile]] || 3,500–5,000
|-
| '''[[Agni-IV]]'''  || Intermediate-range ballistic missile || 4000
|-
| '''[[Agni-V]]'''   || [[Intercontinental ballistic missile]] || 5,000–8,000
|-
| '''[[Agni-VI]]'''  || Intercontinental ballistic missile & MIRV || 8,000–12,000 || Under development
|-
| '''[[Agni-P]]'''    ||  [[Medium-range ballistic missile]] || 1,000–2,000
|Under Testing
|-
| '''[[Surya missile|Surya]]'''  || Intercontinental ballistic missile & MIRV || 12,000–16,000 || Unconfirmed
|}

=== Air-launched nuclear weapons ===
[[File:Dassault Mirage 2000.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[Mirage 2000]] of the Indian Air Force is believed to be assigned the nuclear strike role, operating from Maharajpur Air Force Station.]]
Nuclear-armed fighter-bombers were India's first and only nuclear-capable strike force until 2003, when the country's first land-based nuclear ballistic missiles were fielded.<ref name="auto"/>

In addition to their [[Attack aircraft|ground-attack]] role, it is believed that the [[Dassault Mirage 2000]]s and [[SEPECAT Jaguar]]s of the [[Indian Air Force]] are able to provide a secondary nuclear-strike role.<ref>[http://www.openbriefing.org/issuedesks/nuclearissues/indian-nuclear-forces-2012/ Indian Nuclear Forces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820113841/http://www.openbriefing.org/issuedesks/nuclearissues/indian-nuclear-forces-2012/ |date=20 August 2014 }}, 14 July 2012.</ref> The SEPECAT Jaguar was designed to be able to carry and deploy nuclear weapons and the Indian Air Force has identified the jet as being capable of delivering Indian nuclear weapons.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130514044336/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-10-17/news/34525680_1_jaguar-strike-fighters-stealth-fifth-generation-fighter-aircraft-rafale-fighters India plans to impart power punch to Jaguar fighters], October 2012.</ref> The most likely delivery method would be the use of bombs that are [[Unguided bomb|free-falling and unguided]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdi.org/issues/nukef&f/database/innukes.html |title=CDI Nuclear Issues Area – Nuclear Weapons Database: French Nuclear Delivery Systems |publisher=cdi.org |access-date=16 July 2010}}</ref>

Three airbases with four squadrons of Mirage 2000H (about 16 aircraft with 16 bombs from 1st and 7th squadrons of the 40th Wing at [[Maharajpur Air Force Station]]) and Jaguar IS/IB (about 32 aircraft with 32 bombs from one squadron each at [[Ambala Air Force Station]] and [[Air Force Area (Gorakhpur)|Gorakhpur Air Force Station]]) aircraft, are believed to be assigned the nuclear strike role.<ref name="auto"/>

=== Sea-based ballistic missile ===
[[File:B05 SLBM (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Sagarika (missile)|K-15 Sagarika]] SLBM]]
The [[Indian Navy]] has developed two sea-based delivery systems for nuclear weapons, completing Indian ambitions for a [[nuclear triad]], which may have been deployed in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Peri|first1=Dinakar|title=India's Nuclear Triad Finally Coming of Age|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/indias-nuclear-triad-finally-coming-of-age/|access-date=10 March 2015|agency=The Diplomat|date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/lvVxsu1L5GPLvD7Z5j3baJ/Nuclear-triad-weapons-ready-for-deployment-DRDO.html|title=Nuclear triad weapons ready for deployment: DRDO|date=2014-07-07}}</ref>
[[File:Arihant_1.jpg|thumb|A conceptual drawing of [[INS Arihant]]]]
The first is a submarine-launched system consisting of at least four 6,000 tonne ([[Nuclear submarine|nuclear-powered]]) [[ballistic missile submarine]]s of the [[Arihant class submarine|Arihant class]]. The first vessel, [[INS Arihant|INS ''Arihant'']], has been launched and will complete extensive sea-trials before being commissioned and declared operational. She is the first nuclear-powered submarine to be built by India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|title=The secret undersea weapon|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/The+secret+undersea+weapon/1/3659.html|access-date = 11 November 2012|newspaper=India Today|date=28 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="IT">"Indian nuclear submarine", India Today, August 2007 edition</ref> A [[CIA]] report claimed that Russia provided technological aid to the naval nuclear propulsion program.<ref name=eipyi>{{cite news|title=Russia helped India's nuke programme: CIA|url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=18265|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122191933/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=18265|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2013|access-date=2 January 2013|agency=Press Trust of India|date=9 January 2003}}</ref><ref name=tda>{{cite news|title=Russia helped Indian nuclear programme, says CIA|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2003/01/10/top5.htm|access-date = 2 January 2013|newspaper=The Dawn|date=9 January 2009}}</ref> The submarines will be armed with up to 12 [[Sagarika (missile)|Sagarika]] (K-15) missiles armed with nuclear warheads. Sagarika is a [[submarine-launched ballistic missile]] with a range of 700&nbsp;km. This missile has a length of 8.5 meters, weighs seven tonnes and can carry a pay load of up to 500&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022757940100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229234524/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022757940100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 February 2008 |title=Sagarika missile test-fired successfully |date=27 February 2008 |access-date = 31 August 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Sagarika has already been test-fired from an underwater pontoon, but now [[DRDO]] is planning a full-fledged test of the missile from a submarine and for this purpose may use the services of the [[Russian Navy]].<ref name=autogenerated5>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/06astra.htm |title=Coming from India's defense unit: ASTRA missile |work=Rediff.com |date=31 December 2004 |access-date = 31 August 2010}}</ref> India's [[DRDO]] is also working on a submarine-launched ballistic missile version of the Agni-III missile, known as the Agni-III SL. According to Indian defence sources, the Agni-III SL will have a range of {{convert|3500|km}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/000200805071441.htm |title=Agni-III test-fired successfully |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=7 May 2008 |access-date=31 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606185112/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/000200805071441.htm |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The new missile will complement the older and less capable Sagarika submarine-launched ballistic missiles. However, the Arihant class ballistic missile submarines will be only capable of carrying a maximum of four Agni-III SL.

The second is a ship-launched system based around the short range ship-launched Dhanush ballistic missile (a variant of the [[Prithvi (missile)|Prithvi missile]]). It has a range of around 300&nbsp;km. In the year 2000 the missile was test-fired from INS ''Subhadra'' (a [[Sukanya class patrol craft]]). INS Subhadra was modified for the test and the missile was launched from the reinforced helicopter deck. The results were considered partially successful.<ref name="nrdc.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datab20.asp |title=Nuclear Data – Table of Indian Nuclear Forces, 2002 |publisher=NRDC |access-date = 16 July 2010}}</ref> In 2004, the missile was again tested from INS ''Subhadra'' and this time the results were reported successful.<ref name="bharat-rakshak.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Prithvi.html |title= Prithvi SRBM|website=www.bharat-rakshak.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918064715/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Prithvi.html |archive-date=18 September 2009}}</ref> In December 2005 the missile was tested again, but this time from the [[destroyer]] [[INS Rajput (D51)|INS ''Rajput'']]. The test was a success with the missile hitting the land based target.<ref name="domain-b.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.domain-b.com/aero/20070331_fired.htm |title=Dhanush, naval surface-to-surface missile, test fired successfully |publisher=domain-b.com |date=31 March 2007 |access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ {{bigger|Sea-based ballistic missiles}}
|-
! Name
! Type
! Range (km)
! Status
|-
| '''[[Prithvi missile|Dhanush]]''' ||[[Short-range ballistic missile]]|| 350 || Operational<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spsnavalforces.com/exclusive/?id=174&h=India-s-Dhanush-Undergoes-1st-Night-Test|title=India s Dhanush Undergoes 1st Night Test – SP's Naval Forces|access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Sagarika (missile)|Sagarika (K-15)]]'''{{nbsp|2}} ||[[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 700 || Operational
|-
| '''[[K-4 (SLBM)|K-4]]''' ||[[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 3,500 || Serial Production<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/india-test-fires-long-range-n-missile-launched-from-under-sea-114032501060_1.html|title=India test fires long range N-missile launched from under sea|author=Press Trust of India|date=25 March 2014|access-date=27 July 2015|newspaper=Business Standard India}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[K-5 (ballistic missile)|K-5]]''' ||[[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 5,000 || Under Development<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keck |first1=Zachary |title=India's First Ballistic Missile Sub to Begin Sea Trials |url=https://thediplomat.com/2013/07/indias-first-ballistic-missile-sub-to-begin-sea-trials/ |website=The Diplomat |date=30 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[K-6 (missile)|K-6]]''' || [[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]]|| 6,000 || Under Development<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/dec/15/maiden-trial-of-pralay-k5-likely-soon-1911623.html|title=DRDO on long range Pralay, K5 to stalemate China soon|website=The New Indian Express|date=15 December 2018 |access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>
|}