deployment of the PLA Navy ships in the - Information Resource ...

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NAVAL DESPATCH FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Strike force, ships with long range weapons could launch standoff weapons or use the tactical mobility to close adversary's shore to launch their weapons, and submarines could be deployed based on their weapon range to ensure assured retaliation. • Number of Platforms. Considering the factors of limited mobility incase of land vectors and availability of intelligence on land and air vectors; the dispersion and the number of land/ air vectors required to ensure sufficient survivability would be large. However, incase of sea vectors the inherent advantages of identification problems in international waters and stealth provided by submarines due submerged capability would require fewer units to ensure the same degree of survivability. • Command & Control Network. For C2 networking Land and Air vectors have the advantage of secure land lines/ physical connectivity in addition to wireless and satellite communications. Land based vectors are more susceptible to EMP and DE weapons than Sea vectors due to their lack of mobility. Sea Vectors are restricted to established satellite communication and other traditional wireless communication networks with limited security. In the case of submarines, due their inherent submerged operations passing of info/ commands after a First Strike could be severely limited considering that land based VLF stations would also be a part of adversary's First Strike target list. A few ways to obviate this severe handicap could be to decentralise development of airborne VLF assets. • Escort Requirements. Considering their strategic nature, all three vectors would require a certain amount of escorting. This would mean anti-air and anti-missile protection for all three vectors and additionally anti-submarine protection for ships at sea. However, in case of availability of a large number of nuclear assets, the option of some of them especially ships being deployed unescorted for tactical reasons such as availability of integral anti-air, anti-missile and even anti-submarine defence systems could be considered. These unescorted ships would then prove difficult to identify and target, however, chance encounters should be factored into the survivability calculations. • Logistic Requirements. The logistical infrastructure requirements for basing and relocating of Land vectors including the need for integral C3 infrastructure would require significant noticeable build up at all primary/ alternate sites. Similarly, for operation of Air vectors, significant logistics build up would be necessary to sustain operations at the primary and alternate air bases. These would then assist adversary's identification and targeting problems. However, sea vectors are designed to be self contained/ independent and can sustain at sea for prolonged durations, sufficient to ensure an assured Second Strike. Summation of Vector Analysis Land vectors have the advantage of secured lines of communication and physical proximity to C2 infrastructure. However, they are limited to land boundaries, subject to easier identification and restricted in mobility due requirement of road/ rail network. Air vectors enjoy the advantage of high speed and less reaction time. However, they are subject to targeting on ground during a First Strike and over enemy airspace during the Second Strike. Moreover, Air vectors need significant logistic support for sustained ops from primary/ alternate bases. Sea vectors on the other hand are independent, difficult to identify, less susceptible to WMD, offer high mobility, can close enemy shore for weapon launch remaining in international waters and can sustain ops for long durations. Carrier borne aircraft could be deployed to deliver Second Strike weapons swiftly while keeping the Carrier Task Force beyond adversary's weapon range. However, ships rely on Satellite Communication for vital C2 information and submarines are further restricted in ability to exchange information while remaining submerged. Additionally ships would require protection in all three dimensions to ensure assured delivery of the weapons FFFFFFFFF SEPTEMBER 2010 FFFFFFFFF37
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF unless deliberately deployed as single unit with integral self defence capabilities. Conclusion While Indian's nuclear diplomacy exhorts for a Nuclear Weapons Free World, it also espouses a massive Second Strike retaliation. Hence the Indian Second Strike forces would need to be prepared for an all out multiple First Strike. All vectors have their own pros and cons; a large, dispersed and op ready triad deployed with assured alternate Command and Control network would be the way ahead to achieve the desired punitive retaliation envisaged in India's nuclear doctrine. ************ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Cdr KM Ramakrishnan (03707-Z) is a specialist in Navigation and Direction and an alumnus of NDA and DSSC. The officer's sea appointments include Navigating Officer of IN Ships Sharda, Kuthar, Rana, Krishna and Talwar. The officer has commanded INS Nirbhik and INS Subhadra. He is presently serving as Directing Staff at DSSC (Wellington) ************ FFFFFFFFF SEPTEMBER 2010 FFFFFFFFF 38
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