India, Pakistan's nuclear weapons: All the pieces in place
- Federation of American Scientists, WA (USA)
As a result of West German investigations into a series of illegal exports of sensitive nuclear technology, evidence is mounting that both countries have even more extensive nuclear weapons research, development, and production programs than previously thought. These investigations and other recent public revelations indicate the following: (1) India probably decided several years ago to acquire the know-how to make a thermonuclear weapon as a hedge against Pakistan's growing nuclear ability, and to be prepared to test such a device within a few months of a Pakistani nuclear test. (2) Both India and Pakistan have imported beryllium a material useful in designing smaller, lighter, and more-sophisticated nuclear weapons. India is also producing beryllium in its own facilities. (3) Pakistan has acquired sophisticated tritium-processing equipment from West Germany, and India is building a plant that will be able to produce large amounts of tritium. (4) Pakistan is reported to have perfected the design of a nuclear aerial bomb for its US-supplied F-16 attack aircraft, and India has apparently been working of design of a nuclear aerial bomb since 1984. India is reportedly preparing to test an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range of 1,500 miles; in February, Pakistan said it had test-fired two short-range missiles.
- OSTI ID:
- 5046903
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (USA), Journal Name: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (USA) Vol. 45:5; ISSN BASIA; ISSN 0096-5243
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
350200* -- Arms Control-- Proliferation-- (1987-)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
INDIA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR MATERIALS DIVERSION
NUCLEAR MATERIALS POSSESSION
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PAKISTAN
PROLIFERATION
WEAPONS