Strategic Forces Command

It is the responsibility of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) to operationalize the directives of the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) under the leadership of a Commander-in-Chief who is a three-star rank officer. It will have the sole responsibility of initiating the process of delivering nuclear weapons and warheads, after acquiring explicit approval from the NCA. The exact selection of the target area shall be decided by the SFC through a calibrated, cumulative process involving various levels of decision-making, and with formal approval by the NCA.

The SFC manages and administers all strategic forces by exercising complete command and control over nuclear assets, and producing all contingency plans as needed to fulfill the required tasks. Since its inception, the SFC's command, control and communication systems have been firmly established, and the command has attained a high state of operational readiness.{{cite news|title=Agni-I launched for the first time by Strategic Forces Command|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=556137|access-date=27 June 2012|newspaper=Outlook India|date=23 March 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510143612/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=556137|archive-date=10 May 2013}}

{{see also|Nuclear triad|India and weapons of mass destruction}}

The estimated 68 nuclear warheads{{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}} of land-based nuclear weapons of India are under the control of and deployed by the Strategic Forces Command,{{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}} using a variety of both vehicles and launching silos. They currently consist of three different types of ballistic missiles, the Agni-I, the Agni-II, Agni-III, Shaurya and the Army's variant of the Prithvi missile family – the Prithvi-I. Additional variants of the Agni missile series have recently been inducted including the most recent, the Agni-IV{{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}} and the Agni-V, which is currently being deployed.{{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}} Agni-VI is also under development, with an estimated range of 8,000–12,000 km and features such as Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) or Maneuverable reentry vehicles (MARVs).{{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 }}{{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 }}

File:Agni-V missile during rehearsal of Republic Day Parade 2013.jpg 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.{{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)}}

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.{{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}}

File:Dassault Mirage 2000.jpg 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.

In addition to their ground-attack role, it is believed that the Dassault Mirage 2000s and SEPECAT Jaguars of the Indian Air Force are able to provide a secondary nuclear-strike role.[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. 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.[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. The most likely delivery method would be the use of bombs that are free-falling and unguided.{{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}}

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 Gorakhpur Air Force Station) aircraft, are believed to be assigned the nuclear strike role.

File:B05 SLBM (cropped).jpg 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.{{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}}{{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}}

File:Arihant_1.jpg]]

The first is a submarine-launched system consisting of at least four 6,000 tonne (nuclear-powered) ballistic missile submarines of the Arihant class. The first vessel, 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.{{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}}"Indian nuclear submarine", India Today, August 2007 edition A CIA report claimed that Russia provided technological aid to the naval nuclear propulsion program.{{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}}{{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}} The submarines will be armed with up to 12 Sagarika (K-15) missiles armed with nuclear warheads. Sagarika is a submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 700 km. This missile has a length of 8.5 meters, weighs seven tonnes and can carry a pay load of up to 500 kg.{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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}}.{{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 }} 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). It has a range of around 300 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.{{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}} In 2004, the missile was again tested from INS Subhadra and this time the results were reported successful.{{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}} In December 2005 the missile was tested again, but this time from the destroyer INS Rajput. The test was a success with the missile hitting the land based target.{{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}}

{{see|Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command}}

; Integrated entities

• Defence Planning Committee, tri-services command at policy level with NSA as its chief
• Chief of Defence Staff (India), professional head of the Indian Armed Forces
• Integrated Defence Staff, tri-services command at strategic level composed of MoD, MEA and tri-services staff
• Indian Armed Forces Tri-Service Commands
• Northern Theatre Command (India)
• Western Theatre Command (India)
• Maritime Theatre Command
• Air Defence Command (India)
• Defence Cyber Agency
• Defence Space Agency
• Special Operations Division

; Assets

• List of Indian Air Force stations
• List of Indian Navy bases
• List of active Indian Navy ships
• India's overseas military bases

; General concepts

• Joint warfare, general concept
• Minimum Credible Deterrence
• List of cyber warfare forces of other nations

{{Reflist}}

{{Military of India}}

{{Strategic forces |state=collapsed}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

Category:Military units and formations of India

Category:Commands of the Indian Armed Forces

Category:Vajpayee administration

Category:2003 establishments in India

Category:Joint military units and formations of India

Category:Strategic forces