Currently India is a regional player. This is what we are planning to do atleast for now. As far as nuclear triad go, it has three components; Air-based , Land-based and Sea-based. Second-Strike capability demands diversification of nuclear weapon delivery systems which include Bombers, Land based Ballistic Missiles, Submarine based Ballistic Missiles etc. Indian Projected nuclear triad goes like this:
1. Air: It deals with bombers and air dropped weapons. Latest SFC request for 40 fighter bombers will satisfy this requirement. Assuming a flanker class fighter will be chosen for this role will be good enough for regional deployment. With buddy refueling, it will be able to carry precision nuke strike within our region if it is ever required.
There are two requirement in my opinion:
A) Nirbhay(Projected Range 100km) has to be nuclear capable even if they never claim it to be.
B) SFC should be able to use Nirbhay from their fighters/bombers.
If these two requirements are met then I think we have covered "Air" part of our nuclear triad on regional level.
If we want global level triad than we need bigger long range bomber aircraft. Currently there are no such plans.
2. Land: It deals with land based missiles. We currently have Agni-2. Agni-3 if already not produced will soon be in production. Agni-5 will be tested next year. And most probably will be in production 2014-15 onwards. This will give us range of 5000km. I think a good production run of Agni-5 if successful will satisfy completely our regional land part of triad. Agni-5 will have MIRV capability.
Again if want global triad we need long range ICBMs of range all the way upto 15000 to 18000km. Again currently no plans.
3. Sea: It deals with missiles launched from (underwater) Submarines. With nuclear powered ATV coming into service soon, India will join few selected nations with that capability. With more nuclear submarines on way and with K15(Sagarika; nuclear capable) , I think we will have this part of Triad covered atleast on regional level.
Again if want global triad, we will need more nuclear subs with long range missiles maybe Sagarika-2 in future. Currently there are no such plans.
Now by regional level I mean Central Asia, China, East Asia, West Asia, South East Asia, Arabian Peninsula, IOR and of-course South Asia. Map of Asia for general reference: Asia Map
India has the capability to develop technology required for a global level nuclear triad. However that will be a political decision and it will require a strong central leadership.
1. Air: It deals with bombers and air dropped weapons. Latest SFC request for 40 fighter bombers will satisfy this requirement. Assuming a flanker class fighter will be chosen for this role will be good enough for regional deployment. With buddy refueling, it will be able to carry precision nuke strike within our region if it is ever required.
There are two requirement in my opinion:
A) Nirbhay(Projected Range 100km) has to be nuclear capable even if they never claim it to be.
B) SFC should be able to use Nirbhay from their fighters/bombers.
If these two requirements are met then I think we have covered "Air" part of our nuclear triad on regional level.
If we want global level triad than we need bigger long range bomber aircraft. Currently there are no such plans.
2. Land: It deals with land based missiles. We currently have Agni-2. Agni-3 if already not produced will soon be in production. Agni-5 will be tested next year. And most probably will be in production 2014-15 onwards. This will give us range of 5000km. I think a good production run of Agni-5 if successful will satisfy completely our regional land part of triad. Agni-5 will have MIRV capability.
Again if want global triad we need long range ICBMs of range all the way upto 15000 to 18000km. Again currently no plans.
3. Sea: It deals with missiles launched from (underwater) Submarines. With nuclear powered ATV coming into service soon, India will join few selected nations with that capability. With more nuclear submarines on way and with K15(Sagarika; nuclear capable) , I think we will have this part of Triad covered atleast on regional level.
Again if want global triad, we will need more nuclear subs with long range missiles maybe Sagarika-2 in future. Currently there are no such plans.
Now by regional level I mean Central Asia, China, East Asia, West Asia, South East Asia, Arabian Peninsula, IOR and of-course South Asia. Map of Asia for general reference: Asia Map
India has the capability to develop technology required for a global level nuclear triad. However that will be a political decision and it will require a strong central leadership.