Book Review of
Nuclear India From Reluctance to Tried
Author: Sanjay Badri-Maharaj
Helion & Co. Ltd,
Asia@War Series No. 25
ISBN: 978-1-914377-04-4
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $ 29.95
Asia@War Series No. 25
ISBN: 978-1-914377-04-4
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $ 29.95
Since the 1998 nuclear tests and the publication of India’s Nuclear doctrine, India has continued to face endemic security challenges from both China and Pakistan. The latter, through the apparent introduction of tactical nuclear weapons into the equation and a rapid expansion of its fissile material production capacity has introduced an additional complication into Indian security calculations, while China has become increasingly assertive and intransigent in its conduct towards its neighbours, India included.
In light of an evolving challenge, India’s nuclear strategy predicated on a credible minimum deterrence threshold needs to be looked at in light of the prospect of lowered nuclear thresholds in the case of Pakistan as well as potential coercive nuclear posturing from China.
In neither case can nuclear strategy be divorced from conventional military strategy as any operation-offensive or defensive – will now have to be carried out with the potential of nuclear escalation in mind.
Nuclear India details the evolution of India’s nuclear journey, from 1960’s to the present day, the historical events leading to the 1974 nuclear tests, the reluctant nuclearization that occurred thereafter and the first phases of an operational nuclear deterrent in the late 1980’s.
By detailing the weapons and delivery systems developments, this book evaluates India’s deterrent path, as it exists at present and its current evolutionary path. The specialized shape, size and composition of India’s current deterrent is examined, including a detailed discussion of India’s ballistic missile programs, its air launched and ground-based cruise missiles and its growing SSBN/SLBM capability.
In addition, Nuclear India includes details of ballistic missile-defences, as well as the practicality of enhanced preparedness against decapitating or paralyzing EMP strikes and unconventional nuclear threats.
Nuclear India examines India’s nuclear doctrine and examines its credibility as India moves inexorably towards a nuclear triad.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co. Ltd. is based in England.
This book is soft-cover of 80 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of a yellow missile, with black markings being launched from a field in the forest, near a camouflaged control building.
At the bottom of the cover art there is a color side-view profile of a SU-30MKI.
The book begins with ABBREVIATIONS & the INTRODUCTION.
It contains 68 black and white photos. The majority of these are of various missiles. Two photos are of India’s prime minister Gandhi. Twelve photos are of grounds that have been nuclear blasted. There are 3 photos of Indian leaders, a Sepecat fighter, a Jaguar fighter, three photos of a Rafale fighter, two photos of a Su-30MKI, 3 photos of a Mirage 2000H Vajras, three photos of nuclear plants and two photos of Indian troops in anti-radiation suits and a photo of a THD-1955 3D long-range surveillance radar unit
There are 9 data lists in the book and 3 maps.
Color side-view profile illustrations show:
A Mirage 2000 fighter, a Su-30MKI fighter, a Dassault Rafale fighter, a Sukanya-Class Indian Navy offshore patrol vessel, the INS Arihant submarine and two missile-launcher trucks with illustrations of 12 different missiles.
At the end of the book is the BIBLIOGRAPHY and NOTES pages.
This is an interesting book about India’s nuclear programs.
In light of an evolving challenge, India’s nuclear strategy predicated on a credible minimum deterrence threshold needs to be looked at in light of the prospect of lowered nuclear thresholds in the case of Pakistan as well as potential coercive nuclear posturing from China.
In neither case can nuclear strategy be divorced from conventional military strategy as any operation-offensive or defensive – will now have to be carried out with the potential of nuclear escalation in mind.
Nuclear India details the evolution of India’s nuclear journey, from 1960’s to the present day, the historical events leading to the 1974 nuclear tests, the reluctant nuclearization that occurred thereafter and the first phases of an operational nuclear deterrent in the late 1980’s.
By detailing the weapons and delivery systems developments, this book evaluates India’s deterrent path, as it exists at present and its current evolutionary path. The specialized shape, size and composition of India’s current deterrent is examined, including a detailed discussion of India’s ballistic missile programs, its air launched and ground-based cruise missiles and its growing SSBN/SLBM capability.
In addition, Nuclear India includes details of ballistic missile-defences, as well as the practicality of enhanced preparedness against decapitating or paralyzing EMP strikes and unconventional nuclear threats.
Nuclear India examines India’s nuclear doctrine and examines its credibility as India moves inexorably towards a nuclear triad.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co. Ltd. is based in England.
This book is soft-cover of 80 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of a yellow missile, with black markings being launched from a field in the forest, near a camouflaged control building.
At the bottom of the cover art there is a color side-view profile of a SU-30MKI.
The book begins with ABBREVIATIONS & the INTRODUCTION.
It contains 68 black and white photos. The majority of these are of various missiles. Two photos are of India’s prime minister Gandhi. Twelve photos are of grounds that have been nuclear blasted. There are 3 photos of Indian leaders, a Sepecat fighter, a Jaguar fighter, three photos of a Rafale fighter, two photos of a Su-30MKI, 3 photos of a Mirage 2000H Vajras, three photos of nuclear plants and two photos of Indian troops in anti-radiation suits and a photo of a THD-1955 3D long-range surveillance radar unit
There are 9 data lists in the book and 3 maps.
Color side-view profile illustrations show:
A Mirage 2000 fighter, a Su-30MKI fighter, a Dassault Rafale fighter, a Sukanya-Class Indian Navy offshore patrol vessel, the INS Arihant submarine and two missile-launcher trucks with illustrations of 12 different missiles.
At the end of the book is the BIBLIOGRAPHY and NOTES pages.
This is an interesting book about India’s nuclear programs.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Helion & Co. Ltd. books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate's website at
Recommended.