International Strategic Review

National Institute of Advanced Studies International Strategic & Security Studies Programme (ISSSP)

ISSSP Monthly International Strategic Review

Nuclear I Maritime I Space I Delivery Platforms

Vol. 4, Issue. 3 March 2017

February 2017 India’s New Record: One Rocket, 104 Satellites

February 2017 was a busy month for Space related activities in China, North Korea, Iran and India. About International Strategic & China’s DF-5C ballistic missile test with 10 MIRVs in early February was viewed as “intimidation signals” by the US, especially considering the tense situation in Security Studies Programme (ISSSP) the South China Sea. The PLA also released a video of its Rocket Force conducting an exercise with DF-16 medium range ballistic missile, which, with a range of 1,000 km, can easily target several countries in China’s neighbourhood in- The ISSSP is one of the oldest, active cluding the US military assets in Japan. Several reports in the Chinese official and vibrant groups within the National media hinted on the PLA stepping up preparedness for a possible military conflict with the US as Trump signalled to follow more hard-line policy to counter Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS). China’s claims on the disputed South China Sea. Started in 1996 with a broad objective DPRK test fired an intermediate range ballistic missile into its eastern waters, of pursuing academic and policy violating UN Security Council’s resolutions banning testing of any ballistic mis- research related to national and sile technology. Musudan, the missile that was tested, has a range of 3000- international security issues, today the 4000 km covering entire Japan and the US military base in Guam. Also, com- ISSSP has a national and global mercial satellite imagery indicates a possible nuclear test in the near future. reputation on those issues it is engaged The US sanctions seem to have failed to curb Iran’s development of missile with. technology. Iran came under fire from the Trump administration after it confirmed a ballistic missile test. The US administration imposed sanctions against 13 people and companies connected to Iran. Iran launched a surface to air missile days after the new US sanctions and followed it up by a successful launch With a right mix of senior scholars, full of their latest cruise missile. time faculty, doctoral and post Pakistan during February claimed India has built a nuclear city. Its Foreign doctoral fellows and young research Spokesperson, Nafees Zakaria said India has been conducting tests on inter- associates the ISSSP is one of the continental missile and has accumulated a stockpile of nuclear weapon under- mining the strategic balance of power in the region. A Chinese TV report, quot- largest programme as well within the ing a former Chinese Engineer mentioned about the transfer of nuclear tech- NIAS. nology by China to Pakistan. This Chinese report only reconfirms earlier refer- ences on the subject by other international resources on the issue of transfer of nuclear and missile technology to Pakistan by China. In terms of research and related But the real highlight in February was India setting a new record by launching activities the ISSSP is sui generis. The 104 satellites on single rocket. The ISRO has been consistently in the news mak- primary emphasis of the ISSSP research ing great strides with the most cost effective Mars mission in the world and its indigenously built cryogenic engine. Besides, the eleventh edition of Aero India is towards integrating complex was held at Air Force Station, Bengaluru from 14 to 18 Feb 2017, making way for elements of science and technology new international collaborations for India. One of the most significant an- with policy, organizational and nouncements at Aero India was the National Laboratories Limited (NAL)’s pro- institutional arrangements posal to revive three aircraft programmes- Saras aircraft, 70 seater aircraft programme and the NM5-100.

Kaveri Ashok, Mrunalini Deshpande & RIffath Khaji Editors, ISR

2 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

ISSSP Monthly International Strategic Review Nuclear I Space I Delivery Platforms

Vol. 4, Issue. 3 March 2017

CHINA

Contents Nuclear

CNBC, 09 February, 2017 China 03 China’s nuclear missile policy put under strain by US plan DPRK 09 A decision by the United States to pursue Iran 13 a new breed of nuclear weapons could push China to reconsider its decades- Pakistan 25 long atomic policy, according to experts. The U.S. Defence Department recently India 30 received a recommendation that the government develop tactical nuclear weapons with "low yield" results that can be deployed within smaller battle- field areas. Tong Zhao, an associate in the Carnegie Endowment's Nuclear Pol- icy Program based in Beijing, told CNBC that this more flexible form of weapon would lower the threshold of nuclear use. "This will be seen by China as evidence of U.S. contemplating first use of nuclear weapons in a future crisis and will encourage China to consider pursu-

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ing similar capabilities that may under- range ballistic missile. First displayed at a mine the no-first-use policy," he said in an military parade in Beijing in 2015, the mis- email. China's "no-first-use policy" means sile is believed to have a range of 1,000 Beijing only demands the capability to kilometres, putting it within striking dis- ensure the launch of a nuclear missile, tance of Okinawa, home to several US after being hit first by an enemy nuclear military installations in Japan, Taiwan and strike. (China’s nuclear missile policy put the Philippines. under strain by US plan, CNBC, 09 Febru- ary, 2017, http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/09/chinas- The Rocket Force is a special contingent nuclear-missile-policy-put-under-strain-by- to handle range of missiles in its military's us-plan.html) arsenal. Several 10-wheeled mobile launch vehicles carrying the ballistic mis-

siles were seen in the footage released to Delivery Vehicles: Missile show the training of Rocket Force missile brigade soldiers around the Spring Festi-

val holiday. The participating units han- China's Rocket Force Holds Exercise with dled a number of scenarios, including New Ballistic Missile chemical/biological contamination, coun- According to NDTV, China's newly-formed tering satellite reconnaissance and elec- Rocket Force has conducted an exercise tronic jamming, state-run China Daily re- with advanced DF-16 medium-range ballis- ported today. tic missile that has a range of over 1,000 km and could target a number of coun- The crews practiced in multiple manoeu- tries in the neighbourhood, including In- vres, such as rapid loading, redeployment dia. Significantly the People's Liberation and launch sequence, though the video Army (PLA), which is secretive about its showed no missile actually being weapons systems, has released a video of launched. Two types of DF-16 appeared in the recent exercise of its troops employ- the exercise. The video represents the ing the advanced Dongfeng-16 medium- third time the DF-16 has been shown to the public. Though the PLA has never dis- closed its ballistic missiles' specifications, experts said the DF-16 poses a challenge to foreign military installations along the first island chain, which is what the Chi- nese military calls the series of islands that stretch from Japan in the north to Taiwan and the Philippines to the south, the report said. (China's Rocket Force Holds Exercise with New Ballistic Missile, NDTV, 07 February, 2017, http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/chinas- rocket-force-holds-exercise-with-new- ballistic-missile-1656644)

Source: NDTV Russia may supply ten Su-35 fighter jets

4 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

to China in 2017 The second batch of 10 Su-35 fighter jets China to sell new short-range missile to will be delivered to China this year and the foreign countries other 10 aircraft in 2018, a source in the According to Zee News, China plans to field of military and technical cooperation sell to foreign countries its new short- with foreign states told TASS. "The first range air-to-surface missile which can be four vehicles were supplied in late last mounted on drones and is designed for year and the second batch of 10 jets will anti-terrorism operations. The China be delivered to the customer this year," Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, the source said. The Federal Service for the country's largest military drone ex- Military-Technical Cooperation has de- porter by number of products sold over- clined to comment on the report. In No- seas, said it recently conducted live-fire vember 2016, Deputy Director of the Fed- tests on the AR-2 short-range air-to- eral Service for Military-Technical Coop- surface missile in northwestern China. eration Vladimir Drozhzhov told TASS that The AR-2 is seen as tough competition Russia had started meeting its commit- for US, French and Israeli missiles. ments under the contract with China for the delivery of the fighter jets. With a weight of about 20 kilograms and a 5 kilograms warhead, an AR-2 has a Russia and China signed a contract in No- maximum range of 8 km and a top speed vember 2015 for the delivery of 24 Su-35 of 735 km per hour. It is effective against fighter jets. The three-year deal for the personnel, armoured cars, houses or supplies of aircraft, ground equipment bunkers, its designers said. A CH-4 recon- and spare engines is estimated at $2 bil- naissance/combat drone was used in the lion. The Su-35 (NATO reporting name: tests, though the missile can also be Flanker-E) is a highly upgraded 4++- mounted on other CH drones, officials generation super-manoeuvrable multipur- said. The academy's CH-series drones pose fighter jet incorporating fifth- have been sold to military users in over generation technologies. Its maximum 10 countries, it said. The missile also can speed is 2,500 km/h, flying range is 3,400 be carried by Chinese attack helicopters km, and combat radius - around 1,600 km. and other unmanned aircraft after minor (Russia may supply ten Su-35 fighter jets technical modifications, they said. Zeng to China in 2017, TASS, 02 February, 2017, Like, the project manager for the AR-2, http://tass.com/defense/928577) said that the academy hopes to win market share from the United States' AGM- 114 Hellfire, widely used in the 1990s and 2000s.

At least 29 nations, including Australia, France, and South Korea, deploy the Hell- fire. "There are a lot of counter-terrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts in the world that create a huge demand for low-cost, high-efficiency weapons to hit Source: TASS cars or light-duty, armored vehicles," he

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said. "We believe that most ground tar- http://zeenews.india.com/world/china-to- gets designated for drones are soft tar- sell-new-short-range-missile-to-foreign- gets or lightly armoured vehicles, so using countries_1973142.html) a heavier missile such as the AGM-114 Hell- fire for such operations is a waste," Like said. Smaller, cheaper missiles like the AR- China Tests Missile with 10 Warheads 2 are powerful enough to handle those China flight tested a new variant of a targets, and their lighter weight enables a long-range missile with 10 warheads in drone to carry more missiles, Zeng said. what defence officials say represents a dramatic shift in Beijing's strategic nuclear posture. The flight test of the DF-5C The AR-2's biggest competitors are the missile was carried out earlier this month US' AGM-176 Griffin, currently the best- using 10 multiple independently targe- selling lightweight precision-strike table re-entry vehicles, or MIRVs. The test weapon, France's Lightweight Multirole of the inert warheads was monitored Missile and Israel's Whip Shot missile, he closely by U.S. intelligence agencies, said said. But, Zeng said, "the AR-2 features two officials familiar with reports of the strong capabilities and a lower price, so missile test. we are positive it will have good market prospects". The academy also said train- ees from one of its foreign clients per- The missile was fired from the Taiyuan formed a test in which four CH drones Space Launch Center in central China and were networked to perform as a fleet. It, flew to an impact range in the western however, has not named the foreign cli- Chinese desert. No other details about ent. Ground controllers from the un- the test could be learned. Pentagon named foreign nation who were trained spokesman Cmdr. Gary Ross suggested in at the academy guided four CH-4B drones a statement the test was monitored. via satellite to work together in a patrol. "The [Defense Department] routinely (China to sell new short-range missile to monitors Chinese military developments foreign countries, Zee News, February, and accounts for PLA capabilities in our 2017, defense plans," Ross told the Washing-

6 Source: GB Times March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

ton Free Beacon. (China Tests Missile with March 11. The development time will be 10 Warheads, Washington Free Beacon, 31 around three years and, if all goes well, January, 2017, its maiden flight will take place "by the http://freebeacon.com/national- end of 2018". The use of the Long March security/china-tests-missile-10-warheads/) 8 will extensively reduce the launch costs of low- and middle-orbit satellites, giving

it bright prospects in the commercial Delivery Vehicles: Aircraft launch market. Long March 8 would No updates boost carrying capacity for launching satellites to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) and polar orbits, which is currently Delivery Vehicles: Submarine around 2 tonnes. (China to launch new Long March 8 rocket by end of 2018, Gb No updates Times, 27 February, 2017, http://gbtimes.com/china/china-launch- new-long-march-8-rocket-end-2018) Space

Other Platforms China to launch new Long March 8 rocket by end of 2018 According to gb times, China is aiming to No advanced jet launch system for launch a new Long March 8 rocket by the China’s third aircraft carrier, experts say end of 2018 to fill a gap in the country's China will not adopt highly •advanced carrier rocket capabilities and commercial electromagnetic take-off technology on launch prospects, a top space official has its second •domestically built aircraft car- said. The Long March 8 will use engines rier but instead rely on a conventional and other design aspects developed for system, naval experts say. The Type 002 the recently debuted Long March 5 and vessel – the country’s third aircraft car- Long March 7 rockets. The Long March 8 rier after the Liaoning and the Type 001A will be capable of sending a payload of carrier under construction in Dalian – about 7.6 metric tonnes to low Earth or- would be equipped with at least three bit, 4.5 tonnes to a sun-synchronous orbit, conventional steam launch catapults, a or 2.5 tonnes to geosynchronous transfer source close to the navy, according to orbit. The Long March 8 core stage will be the South China Morning Post. But it 3.35m in diameter, as with the Long would be the first •Chinese aircraft car- March 3 series and new Long March 7, rier to use this type of launch system. and will utilise two 2m diameter solid- propelled boosters, according to Li. China's existing and proposed Long There are still some technical problems March launch vehicles, including LM-8 applying nuclear •propulsion to the car- (third left) (CALT). rier platform, so the Type 002 will still use steam catapults. This is still a break- through compared with Liaoning and the The use of solid-fuelled strap-on boosters Type 001A carrier, both of which are for a Long March rocket would be a first equipped with ski-jump ramps. It will also for the Chinese space programme, though take a couple of years for the newest CALT has developed the solid-fuelled Long

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carrier to enter full service after its but it will take several more years to de- launch, as it takes two or three years to velop as part of a real battle group be- train carrier-based pilots. The construc- fore entering full service in the navy.” tion of the Type 002 started at the Jiang- Meanwhile, Andrei Chang, founder of nan Changxingdao shipyard in Shanghai in military magazine Kanwa Asian •Defence, March 2015. China planned to produce said the Type 001A was “purely a copy- two Type 002 carriers, each with a dis- cat” of the Varyag, which was laid down placement of 85,000 tonnes, which as a Kuznetsov-class carrier for the Soviet would make them the biggest Chinese navy in the 1970s, before it was sold to carriers. The Liaoning is about 55,000 ton- China and •refurbished as the Liaoning. nes while the Type 001A will be 70,000 (No advanced jet launch system for tonnes. China’s third aircraft carrier, experts say, South China Morning Post, 14 February,

2017, The first Type 002 carrier was expected to http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article be launched in about 2021. There had /2070262/no-advanced-jet-launch-system- been speculation that the Type 002 could chinas-third-aircraft-carrier-experts-say) be a •nuclear-powered vessel with an electromagnetic take-off system. But Li Jie, a Beijing-based military expert, said it would be impossible to develop a com- pletely new generation carrier in just a few years. “Different systems need different technology, technicians and pilots,” Li said. “For example, the Type 001A is scheduled to be launched later this year,

8 Source: South China Morning Post March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

however. The country lashed out at Ja- pan for its "moves for overseas invasion" DPRK in an editorial in the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Japan and the US are to hold joint military drills next month. Nuclear North Korea frequently gets testy when Japan practices intercepting its missiles, which North Korea likes to lob into the Activity at North Korean Nuclear Facility Sea of Japan. Could Mean Another Test Imminent "The moves stepped up by Japan in the Activity at North Korea's Punggye-ri Nu- wake of the DPRK's test-fire of Pukguk- clear Test facility indicates that the coun- song-2 are being ridiculed by the world try could conduct another nuclear test at community as foolish attempts to cover any time, a North Korean watchdog its ambition for overseas invasion under warns. The website 38 North, which moni- the pretext of the former's missile test- tors commercial satellite imagery for clues fire," KCNA wrote, while complaining to North Korea's actions, says the contin- about Japan's supposed nuclear capabili- ued activity in many areas of the Punggye- ties. ri site shown by images from February 18 indicate that work is underway at many of the site's tunnels. "In particular, the shift- "It is the calculation of Japan to attain ing of supplies and equipment, as well as the position of the leading power in Asia additional changes in the texture and pat- even by offering its whole archipelago as tern of small sections of the tailings pile at an advance base of the U.S. for invading the North Portal, indicate continuing work the continent while zealously following inside the test tunnels," 38 North said. the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK. With the snow having been cleared in The Japanese reactionaries, however, some areas around the site, a "sizable col- should not miscalculate," Pyongyang lection of supplies or equipment in the warned. (Activity at North Korean Nu- northern courtyard," has been revealed, clear Facility Could Mean Another Test the website notes. Imminent, Sputnik News, 26 February, Tensions are high between the reclusive 2017, nuclear state and most of the rest of the https://sputniknews.com/asia/2017022610 world at the moment. Following North 51045791-nk-nuclear-site-activity/) Korea's last intermediate-range missile test, China announced it would slash coal imports from the country, one of its last Delivery Vehicles- Missile sources of income. The murder of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in a Malaysian airport New images show how North Korea is has caused many to conclude the Pyongy- expanding its missile research ang government must be involved, and The nuclear threat from North Korea some US officials are calling for the coun- looks greater than ever. Even as the new try to be re-listed as a state sponsor of U.S. defense secretary warned North Ko- terrorism. rea on February 3, 2017 of an "effective • North Korea's bluster continues, and overwhelming" response if the

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rogue state uses nuclear weapons, im- missiles from submarines, tested a rocket ages indicate that Pyongyang continues nose cone for its ability to withstand the to rapidly build out its missile program — heat of re-entry, and claimed its first hy- research, development and facilities for drogen bomb test — all in the last year. storing, launching and testing missiles. Schmerler's team had an informal set of criteria they believed the rouge state had "There's a lot going on. It's not looking to achieve before the researchers got good," said David Schmerler, research worried. "Last year," Schmerler said, associate at the James Martin Center for "North Korea kind of checked off that Nonproliferation Studies. Schmerler is entire list." (New images show how part of a team that analyzes pictures from North Korea is expanding its missile re- Google Earth and private satellite imaging search, CNBC, by Evelyn Cheng, 07 Febru- firm Planet Labs over time, using propa- ary, 2017, ganda videos and other sources to tip http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/07/newly- them off on where and how to scrutinize discovered-north-korea.html) most closely. In his analysis of several North Korean missile development and launch areas, Schmerler has in recent DPRK test-fires ballistic missile weeks identified a new missile facility that he said is "significantly larger" than com- The Democratic People's Republic of Ko- parable facilities in the country. Footage rea (DPRK) fired what is believed to be a from a North Korean network showed ballistic missile into its eastern waters Dictator Kim Jong Un inspecting a large early satellite launch vehicle at the building last February 12, 2017, South Korea's Joint February, Schmerler said. His research put Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The presumed the building at Sanum-dong in the north- intermediate-range Musudan ballistic ern part of the capital, Pyongyang. missile was launched at around 7:55 a.m. Details on the structure have previously local time (2255 GMT February 11, 2017) not been released. Satellite launch vehi- near Banghyeon in the DPRK's north- cles — big rockets, essentially — are not western North Pyongan province. weapons, but their development shows The projectile is estimated to have trav- how quickly North Korea's ballistics tech- eled about 500 km, according to the JCS. nology has advanced. Tests of the projec- It landed in waters off the DPRK's east tiles can provide valuable data for further coast, according to local media reports. weapons development. Pyongyang test-fired Musudan missiles "The reality is that if North Korea doesn't near the same place, where an airfield is test those missiles, its program doesn't located, in October last year. advance. One thing the U.S. has to think It was the DPRK's first test-launch of a about is, how you prevent them from ballistic missile in 2017 and also the first testing?" said Bruce Bennett, senior de- since U.S. President Donald Trump took fense analyst at research organization office on Jan. 20. South Korea's military Rand Corp. The findings come as North said Pyongyang's launch of ballistic mis- Korea held two nuclear tests in 2016 and sile was a provocative act in violation of has greatly advanced its technological UN Security Council's resolutions, which capabilities. ban the DPRK from testing any ballistic The northeast Asian nation has con- missile technology. ducted more than 20 missile tests, fired

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The launch, the military believed, was North Korea has declared its February 12, aimed at drawing attention by showing 2017's nuclear-capable ballistic missile off its nuclear and missile capability and test successful, South Korean Yonhap was also part of armed protest against news agency reported. the Trump administration's hard-line In a statement carried by North Korea’s stance toward the DPRK. Yonhap news state-run Korean Central News Agency agency quoted a military source as saying (KCNA), Pyongyang claimed its Pukguk- that February 12, 2017’s test-launch was song-2 strategic missile system had been not of an intercontinental ballistic missile successfully test-fired, according to re- (ICBM). ports. The surface-to-surface missile used Concerns had persisted about the DPRK's solid propellants and a new type of an ICBM test-launch following its fifth nu- engine, the agency said. The North’s clear test in September last year. Pyongy- leader Kim Jong-un reportedly attended ang test-fired a long-range ballistic rocket the launch. The missile also proved to be in February last year, about a month after capable of engaging evasive manoeu- detonating its fourth atomic bomb. Py- vres, the agency added. ongyang had test-fired Musudan missiles The US Department of Defense has de- eight times between April 15 and Oct. 20 clined to comment on the emerging de- in 2016. Except for the June 22 success at tails of the missile test, in response to which the missile traveled about 500 km, Sputnik’s request on February 13, 2017. all of other launches failed. The missile was reportedly launched ear- Musudan has a range of 3,000-4,000 km lier from an airbase in the western prov- that can put the entire Japan and the U.S. ince of North Pyongang and travelled military base in Guam in its target range. around several hundreds of miles before South Korea's presidential office Cheong plunging into the Sea of Japan outside of Wa Dae convened a national security the Japanese exclusive economic zone. council (NSC) meeting, which was chaired by top presidential security advisor Kim The launch of ballistic missile led to pro- Kwan-jin. tests from the country’s closest neighbours, Japan and South Korea, The meeting was chaired by the top secu- both stating that Pyongyang’s actions rity advisor as President Park Geun-hye were in breach of the UN Security Coun- was suspended following a Dec. 9 im- cil resolutions. DPRK has conducted a peachment that was passed in the parlia- number of missile launches in the past ment. Attending the NSC emergency months, including its biggest nuclear test meeting were ministers of defense, unifi- last September, prompting condemna- cation and foreign affairs as well as head tion from international community. of spy agency and senior presidential secretary for security and foreign affairs. (North Korea Declares Nuclear-Capable (DPRK test-fires ballistic missile, China Ballistic Missile Test Successful, Sputnik News, 12 February, 2017, News, 13 February, 2017, http://www.china.org.cn/world/2017- https://sputniknews.com/asia/2017021310 02/12/content_40269818.htm) 50606902-north-korea-missile-test- success/) North Korea Declares Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile Test Successful

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Delivery Vehicles-Submarine An analysis by Joseph Bermudez, a North Korean military affairs expert, published No Updates for the month of March, by 38 North, a US-based website monitor- 2017. ing activities in the DPRK, used satellite images to confirm extensions to the sta- Delivery Vehicles- Aircraft tion's outer and inner security perime- ters. 38 North's summary stated, "While No Updates for the month of March, the upgrades are likely tied to the master 2017. construction plan, they may also indicate that the launch facility could soon be oc- cupied by NADA and KPA scientists, engi- Space neers, technicians and support personnel. Upgraded security may also reflect a growing North Korean concern of intelli- North Korea Plans to Continue Satellite gence collection by foreign governments Launches Despite UN Objections using defectors from the area or outside North Korea intends to continue launch- agents to infiltrate and collect informa- ing satellites, despite UN Security Council tion." sanctions and resolutions. According to Bermudez's report suggested that these the newspaper Rodong Sinmun, the extensions began in 2011, and described country will continue to launch satellites new guard positions and fences that had when and where its leadership deter- been added to areas where before there mines. On February 7, 2016, North Korea were only simple patrol paths. "Today, put a satellite into orbit, violating UN Se- the outer security perimeter is [about 17 curity Council resolutions. The move is miles] long, encompassing [nearly 11 considered threatening since the interna- square miles] and 12 villages," he said, tional community believes the North adding, "The inner security perimeter is could use its rocket technology to de- [about 12 miles] long, encompassing velop ballistic nuclear missiles. [nearly 6 square miles] and the Sohae Pyongyang has successfully conducted launch facility proper." five nuclear tests, including two in 2016, The UN Security council has decried the and has frequently made statements DPRK's ballistic missile launches, describ- about the advancement of its nuclear pro- ing them as "grave violations" of the or- gram. In January, the North Korean For- ganization's ban on such activity, and ad- eign Ministry announced that the country vised member states to pass further sanc- was ready to launch an intercontinental tions against Pyongyang. After the DPRK ballistic missile (ICBM) "anytime and any- launched a missile from a submarine on where." August 24, the Japanese Foreign Ministry • Satellite Data Shows North Korea released a statement criticizing Pyongy- Tightening Security At Missile Launch Site ang saying, "[The US and Japan] agreed North Korea has beefed up security at its that North Korea's launch of a ballistic Sohae satellite launch station, causing missile from a submarine on August 24 is some US analysts to believe that the unacceptable, and confirmed their inten- country is preparing to test ballistic- tion to continue to stay in close coopera- missile technology currently banned by tion on the Issue of North Korea, includ- the United Nations. ing at the platform of the UN Security

12 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

Council." • The European Council tightened sanctions on North Korea in January, after IRAN Pyongyang claimed that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. The Council Nuclear stated, "Considering that the actions of Iran says denied carbon fiber for nuclear the DPRK constitute a grave threat to in- facilities ternational peace and security in the region and beyond, the EU decided to fur- Iran has been denied fiber carbon that it ther expand its restrictive measures tar- had ordered for use in its nuclear indus- geting the DPRK's nuclear, weapons of try, Head of Atomic Energy Organization mass destruction and ballistic missile pro- of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi has told Fars grammes." Photos show progress at the news agency February 6. He did not di- Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site rectly comment why the supplier has de- where the bomb was said to have been nied Iran’s request, but said, “We did not detonated. accept their conditions. Whenever they give us carbon fibers, we will put aside • Sohae, located in the northwest- our own carbon fibers.” ern territory of Tongchang-ri, was the site of a successful long-range rocket launch in The Institute for Science and Interna- February, in which a satellite was put into tional Security reported last July that the orbit. This led to a controversial agree- AEOI had made an attempt to purchase ment between the US and South Korea to tons of controlled carbon fiber from a construct the Terminal High-Altitude Area country. This attempt, the institute said, Defense system (THAAD), as a preemptive occurred after Implementation Day of step to protecting the peninsula from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action North Korean aggression. (North Korea (JCPOA). The attempt to acquire carbon Plans to Continue Satellite Launches De- fiber was denied by the supplier and its spite UN Objections, Space Daily, 08 Feb- government. ruary, 2017, Carbon fiber is usually used in combina- http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/North tion with other materials to form a com- _Ko- posite. The properties of carbon fiber, rea_Plans_to_Continue_Satellite_Launche such as high stiffness, high tensile s_Despite_UN_Objections_999.html) strength, low weight, high chemical resis- tance, high temperature tolerance, and low thermal expansion makes them one Other Platforms of the most popular material in civil engi- No Updates neering possessing strength up to five times that of steel and being one-third its

weight.

Carbon fibers that are only one-tenth the size of a human hair, but three times stronger than steel, may hold up to the

intense heat and radiation of next generation nuclear power generators, providing a safety mechanism. In March 2015, Iran’s Defense Minister Hossein

13 International Strategic Review

Dehqn inaugurated a T-300 carbon fiber But Iranian officials have declared they factory with an annual output of 150 tons. will not bow down to US “bullying”. Iran's acting commander of the Revolu- In the military industry, carbon fiber is tionary Guard, Gen Hossein Salami, said used for armoring, bullet-proofing, and “[Iran will] never change direction by a providing non-flammable roof- or side- world power's demand, and our missile protection for land-, air- or sea-systems. It and non-missile power will be updated offers protection against heat or open every day.” Houthi rebels, who are allied fire less weight in addition with maximum with Iran, recently launched a suicide at- stiffness. Applications also include drones tack on a Saudi Arabian vessel which US development. (Iran says denied carbon defence officials believe was mistaken for fiber for nuclear facilities, Trends News an American warship. (Iran boosts ura- Agency, by Mehdi Sepahvand, 06 Febru- nium stocks amid nuclear face-off with ary, 2017, Trump, Daily Star, by Nicole Stinson, 06 http://en.trend.az/iran/politics/2717883.ht February, 2017, ml) http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest- news/585633/Donald-Trump-Iran-Russia- Iran boosts uranium stocks amid nuclear uranium-shipment-nuclear-weapons- face-off with Trump missile-launch-war-sanctions) Iran nuke chief Ali Akbar Salehi revealed the nation will be receiving 135 metric Iran stresses ‘updating’ nuclear medicine tonnes of natural uranium from Russia centers before February 7, 2017. Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, on The latest shipment, combined with 190 February 13, 2017 defended the country’s tonnes received last year, would see Iran peaceful nuclear program, underscoring with 60% more uranium stockpiled since that Tehran has to keep “updating” its they signed a UN agreement to halt “any nuclear medicine centers. Salehi made activity” related to nuclear weapons until the comments while visiting a nuclear 2025. medicine center in Tehran where children Highly enriched uranium is a key ingredi- receive nuclear-related treatment. ent in nuclear weapons – but Iranian offi- “The Atomic Agency Organization of Iran cials said they have “no interest” in such has the responsibility to help those cen- technology. Iran’s import of uranium is ters that deal with nuclear technologies,” supervised by the International Atomic he was quoted as saying. Using its nu- Energy Agency. clear expertise, Iran has grown less de- Iran came under fire last week after it pendent on imports of nuclear-based launched a medium range Khorramshahr medicines and introduced a number of ballistic missile. The Trump administration radiopharmaceutical products. hit back with sanctions against 13 people In 2009, Iranian scientists performed a and a dozen companies connected with successful bone marrow surgery on a girl Iran on February 3, 2017. It comes as a with cancer, using Iranian-produced ra- Trump advisor revealed these actions diopharmaceutical MIBG in combination were “only the beginning” as the US with stem cell techniques. Iran has taken president said “nothing was off the ta- initial steps to establish nuclear hospital, ble”. the first of its kind in the Middle East.

14 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

“Preliminary work to start construction of nounced that the country has started the largest nuclear hospital in the Middle taking countermeasures over a US viola- East has already been done,” Salehi tion of the 2015 multilateral nuclear ac- stated. In a relevant development, Iran, in cord. collaboration with Russia, is building an Following a vote by the US Congress to underground infrastructure to produce renew a piece of legislation against Iran stable isotopes for civilian uses in indus- that has been deemed by Iranian officials try, agriculture and medicine at the Frodo as a violation of the nuclear accord last facility. Iran is the fourth country in the December, Iranian President Hassan world with such a technology. Rouhnai ordered the country’s Atomic Iran and the Russian ROSATOM signed on Energy Organization (AEOI) to start cer- Jan. 20 a roadmap for cooperation in tain nuclear activities. peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including Under the order, the AEOI was tasked stable isotope production. The collabora- with working on nuclear propulsion de- tion is framed within a 2015 international vices to be used in sea transport. (Iran nuclear deal between Iran and six world plans to use nuclear technology in mari- powers that removed sanctions against time industry, Trend News Agency, by Tehran in return for it rolling back its nu- Khalid Kazimov, 14 February, 2017, clear program. http://en.trend.az/iran/politics/2720811.ht Under the deal, Iran has committed to ml) convert the Frodo facility into a nuclear, physics and technology center. Two of the six cascades in the facility will spin with- Iran mulling European demand for out uranium and will be transitioned, in- heavy water: official cluding through appropriate infrastruc- Iran is looking into requests put in by ture modification, for stable isotope pro- European customers for its heavy water, duction. (Iran stresses ‘updating’ nuclear a senior official with Iran’s nuclear or- medicine centers, Tehran Times, 13 Febru- ganization said on February 18, 2017. “We ary, 2017, are reviewing requests from some Euro- http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/41105 pean countries for our heavy water,” Ali 2/Iran-stresses-updating-nuclear-medicine- Zarean, special aide to the country’s nu- centers) clear chief, was quoted as saying. Back in March 2016, Iran exported 32 Iran plans to use nuclear technology in tons of heavy water to the United States maritime industry as part of a landmark nuclear agreement in 2105 for a price of $8.6 million. Under Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General the nuclear accord, economic sanctions Hossein Dehqan has called for using nu- against Tehran were lifted in exchange clear energy for marine propulsion in mak- for it rolling back its nuclear program. ing heavy vessels as well as submarines. The shipment was the first technological Dehqan said that the industry should con- material exported from Iran to the U.S., sider environmental issues in developing considered by the Middle Eastern nation propulsion devices, ISNA news agency to be an accomplishment. reported. He made the remarks address- Also, it sold Russia 38 tons of the nuclear ing a conference on marine propulsion in substance last year. The nuclear deal Tehran this morning. Iran earlier an-

15 International Strategic Review

stipulates that Iran has to make available purchase of uranium ore and was still all its excess heavy water for export to awaiting Britain's agreement, Salehi said. international markets with “no additional "Five of the members of the committee heavy water reactors or accumulation of overseeing the (nuclear deal) have given heavy water in Iran for 15 years.” their written approval, but Britain Iran's annual needs are estimated to be changed its mind at the last moment, 130 metric tons of nuclear grade heavy considering the U.S. elections and Middle water or its equivalent in different enrich- East problems," Salehi said, without ments prior to commissioning of the elaborating. There was no immediate re- modernized Arak research reactor. (Iran action from Britain to the report. mulling European demand for heavy wa- "In nuclear talks ... we reached a final ter: official, Tehran Times, 18 February, agreement on jointly producing nuclear 2017, fuel with Russia," Salehi said. "We asked http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/41120 for their help in this regard... and it was 6/Iran-mulling-European-demand-for- agreed for the Russians to give us advi- heavy-water-official) sory help." (Iran plans to buy Kazakh uranium ore, seek Russia help to make nuclear fuel, Reuters, 25 February, 2017, Iran plans to buy Kazakh uranium ore, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran- seek Russia help to make nuclear fuel nuclear-kazakhstan-russia- Iran plans to buy 950 tonnes of uranium idUSKBN1640DO) ore from Kazakhstan over three years and expects to get Russian help in producing nuclear fuel, its top nuclear official said in Delivery Vehicles- Missile remarks published on February 25, 2017.

The acquisition would not violate Iran's Iran confirms missile test, says didn’t landmark 2015 deal with world powers violate nuclear deal over its disputed nuclear program as the deal did not set limits on the Islamic Re- Iran's defense minister said on February public's supplies of uranium ore. The re- 1, 2017 it had tested a new missile but this port by the Iranian Students' News did not breach the Islamic Republic's nu- Agency ISNA comes a day after the U.N. clear accord with world powers or a UN atomic watchdog said Iran's official stock Security Council resolution endorsing the of enriched uranium had fallen by half pact. Iran has test-fired several ballistic after large amounts stuck in pipes was missiles since the nuclear deal in 2015, but recategorised as unrecoverable under a the latest test was the first during US process agreed with the major powers. President Donald Trump's administration. Trump said in his election campaign that "About 650 tonnes is to be delivered in he would stop Iran's missile program. two shipments over two years and 300 tonnes during the third year and this ship- "The recent test was in line with our ment is to be returned to Kazakhstan plans and we will not allow foreigners to (after enrichment)," Ali Akbar Salehi, interfere in our defense affairs," Defence head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organiza- Minister Hossein Dehghan told Tasnim tion, told ISNA in an interview. Iran has news agency. "The test did not violate asked a body overseeing its 2015 nuclear the nuclear deal or (UN) Resolution accord with world powers to approve the 2231." A US official said on January 30,

16 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

2017 that Iran test-launched a medium- tested seven months ago as well. Iran range ballistic missile on January 28, 2017 has one of the Middle East's largest mis- and it exploded after traveling 630 miles sile programs but its potential effective- (1,010 km). ness has been limited by a poor record for accuracy. However, Hossein Salami, The Security Council held an emergency deputy head of Iran's powerful Revolu- meeting on January 31, 2017 and recom- tionary Guards (IRGC) said on the day of mended the matter of the missile testing the test, that the country was now one be studied at committee level. The new of the few whose ballistic missiles were US ambassador to the United Nations, capable of hitting moving objects. Such a Nikki Haley, called the test capability would enable Iran to hit enemy "unacceptable". Iranian Foreign Minister ships, drones or incoming ballistic mis- Mohammad Javad Zarif said on January sile. Some of Iran's precision-guided mis- 31, 2017 that Tehran would never use its siles have the range to strike its regional ballistic missiles to attack another coun- arch-enemy Israel. (Iran confirms missile try. test, says didn’t violate nuclear deal, The Some 220 Iranian members of parliament Daily Star, 01 February, 2017, reaffirmed support for Tehran's missile http://dev.thedailystar.net/world/iran- program, calling international condemna- confirms-missile-test-says-didnt-violate- tion of the tests "illogical." "The Islamic nuclear-deal-1354417) Republic of Iran is against weapons of mass destruction, so its missile capability is the only available deterrence against Trump hits Iran with new sanctions for enemy hostility," the lawmakers said in a missile test statement carried on state media on Feb- The Trump administration ordered sanc- ruary 1, 2017. tions against more than two dozen peo- The state news agency IRNA quoted Ali ple and companies from the Persian Gulf Shamkhani, head of Iran's National Secu- to China February 3, 2017 in retaliation rity Council, as saying Iran would not seek for Iran's recent ballistic missile test, in- "permission from any country or interna- creasing pressure on Tehran without di- tional organization for development of rectly undercutting a landmark nuclear our conventional defensive capability". deal with the country. The Security Council resolution was Those targeted by the Treasury Depart- adopted to buttress the deal under which ment include Iranian, Lebanese, Emirati Iran curbed its nuclear activities to allay and Chinese individuals and firms in- concerns they could be put to developing volved in procuring ballistic missile tech- atomic bombs, in exchange for relief from nology for Iran. They are now prohibited tough economic sanctions. The resolution from doing any business in the United urged Tehran to refrain from work on bal- States or with American citizens. The listic missiles designed to deliver nuclear overall impact is likely to be minimal on weapons. Critics say the resolution's lan- Iran's economy, though some of the peo- guage does not make this obligatory. ple and companies have relationships Tehran says it has not carried out any with Iran's hard-line Revolutionary Guard work on missiles specifically designed to military forces. carry nuclear payloads. The test, accord- "The days of turning a blind eye to Iran's ing to US officials, was of a medium-range hostile and belligerent actions toward ballistic missile, a type that had been

17 International Strategic Review

the United States and the world commu- new sanctions for missile test, MSN nity are over," Michael Flynn, President News, 03 February, 2017, Donald Trump's national security adviser, https://www.msn.com/en- said in a statement. Although White us/news/politics/trump-hits-iran-with- House spokesman Sean Spicer acknowl- new-sanctions-for-missile-test/ar- edged that much of the legwork had oc- AAmzMLP ) curred under President Barack Obama, he told reporters the Trump administration "acted swiftly and decisively" after Iran's Iran’s Missile Test: Getting the Facts recent missile test and Iranian-backed Straight on North Korea’s Cooperation rebels in Yemen firing on a Saudi naval On January 29, Iran tested a new ballistic vessel. missile it dubbed the Khorramshahr, It is Trump's first package of penalties which reportedly flew a distance of about against Iran, reflecting his insistence on a 1,000 kilometers. Little is known about tougher stance toward Tehran. Through- the missile, though some have specu- out his election campaign, Trump accused lated that it relies on a liquid-fueled en- the Obama administration of being weak gine originally developed by the Isayev on Iran, and he vowed to crack down if Design Bureau for the Soviet R-27 subma- elected. Iran has acknowledged that it rine-launched ballistic missile. If so, this conducted a missile test. But it insists the could make it a variant of the North Ko- test didn't violate the 2015 nuclear accord rean Musudan (KN-10), an intermediate- it reached with the United States and five range ballistic missile (IRBM) that uses other world powers, or a subsequent the same engine and that Pyongyang be- U.N. Security Council resolution extend- gan flight testing in 2016. The ramifica- ing an eight-year ban on ballistic missiles tions of such a connection would be sig- "designed to be capable of delivering nu- nificant, not only because it would signify clear weapons." Washington, under ongoing close Iranian-North Korean mis- Obama and Trump, and its Western allies sile cooperation, but also because such agree the matter is separate from the nu- an engine would be a foundation for Iran clear pact but maintain that the missile to develop a viable intercontinental ballis- tests violate the U.N. ban. tic missile (ICBM). However, contrary to some assertions, the available evidence Iran's foreign ministry decried the new cannot verify speculation that the Iranian U.S. sanctions on February 3, 2017 as missile is similar to North Korea’s Musu- "illegitimate." It vowed counter-sanctions dan, or reports that Pyongyang exported on American companies and firms. Iran R-27 engines to Iran. already has a formidable arsenal of thou- sands of short- and medium-range ballis- Media reports citing US government offi- tic missiles capable of reaching Israel and cials claim the missile traveled about other U.S. allies in the Middle East, as well 1,000 kilometers, but its re-entry vehicle as American bases, and has undertaken a exploded before the flight was complete. series of tests in the year and a half since It is unclear whether the explosion was the nuclear agreement. The U.S. said the the result of an accidental or a deliberate latest launch was of a medium-range mis- detonation. Officials did not provide de- sile, and an American defense official details about the type of missile tested, scribed it as failing re-entry into the though an anonymous Pentagon official Earth's atmosphere. (Trump hits Iran with informed Reuters that it was the same kind of missile tested in July 2016, and

18 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

that the launch occurred near Semnan, a test flight. However, North Korea un- known missile-test site west of Tehran. veiled and tested a one-meter diameter Scud in the summer of 2016 capable of However, it remains uncertain whether reaching a distance of about 1,000 kilo- the missile utilized North Korean technol- meters. There is no evidence to suggest ogy or was based on the Musudan IRBM. Pyongyang has transferred one-meter Fox News asserted that Iran tested a BM- Scuds to Tehran, but it is within Iran’s 25 missile, built with R-27 engine technol- technical and industrial capacity to de- ogy imported from North Korea in July velop a clone of the North Korean mis- 2016. However, that report was not inde- sile. pendently confirmed by other media sources. Moreover, during a briefing to Third, the recent Iranian test may have journalists on February 1, 2017, a National been a solid-fueled missile derived from Security Council official described the mis- Iran’s Sajjil program which has not been sile tested as a Shahab, a missile based on tested since 2011. A missile consisting of older North Korean technology. only the Sajjil’s first stage would have an approximate range of 1,000 kilometers Given these uncertainties, there are four and could be used to target Arab Gulf possibilities regarding Iran’s new ballistic states and US forces in the region from missile, ordered from most likely to least less-vulnerable launch positions in Iran’s likely. interior. The first possibility is that Iran tested a The final and least likely possibility is that Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile Iran tested a missile that is essentially the (MRBM) based on North Korea’s Nodong same as the North Korean Musudan. This missile. Initially test fired by Tehran in is unlikely for three reasons. First, if the 1998, this weapon has a range of 950 kilo- Iranian missile were modeled on the meters when carrying a 1,000-kg warhead. 3,000 kilometer-range Musudan, it would Iran has created variants of the Shahab-3 be an intermediate-range ballistic missile, called the Ghadr, and most recently the contrary to the US description of the Emad, which deliver a smaller 750-kg pay- Khorramshahr as a medium-range ballis- load to roughly 1,600 kilometers. The tic missile. Emad, the most recent design, is similar to the Ghadr, but in principle could become Second, while the July 2016 and January more accurate since fins on its base allow 2017 test flights conducted by Iran were the warhead to alter its flight path as it re- largely successful, North Korea’s tests of enters the atmosphere. Perfecting the the Musudan failed soon after launch in new re-entry vehicle design requires Iran six of eight attempts, a wide discrepancy to conduct a dozen or more flight tests, that is difficult to explain even if, as some essentially creating a new missile. might assert, Iran is more capable at missile development. The second possibility is that the missile tested was a variant of the Shahab-2, Finally, flying a Musudan to only 1,000 based on the North’s Scud-C missile that kilometers is unnecessary for Iran, since was imported by Iran from North Korea in it has a much larger flight corridor within the late-1980s and early-1990s, called the which test flights can be performed and Qiam. It has a maximum range of about has done so. 700 kilometers, which would seemingly There is also no reason to believe that eliminate it as well as any other Scud vari- Iran could not test a BM-25 to maximum ants as the possible subject of the recent

19 International Strategic Review

range—instead, if the Khorramshahr is that not only does Iran continue to have based on the BM-25, it would have flown close missile cooperation with North Ko- a very lofted trajectory. In fact, the flight rea, it could also develop a road-mobile, paths associated with each of the possi- two-stage intercontinental ballistic mis- bilities vary considerably, with a possible sile capable of striking the US mainland. BM-25 launch flying to the highest alti- However, such a development would not tude, and the one-meter Scud taking the occur overnight, and would require four flattest trajectory. The countries monitor- or five years of observable flight tests. ing Iranian air space would certainly be (Iran’s Missile Test: Getting the Facts able to distinguish between a BM-25 mis- Straight on North Korea’s Cooperation, sile test from one involving a Ghadr or 38 North, by Michael Elleman, 03 Febru- Emad. A one-meter Scud missile test ary, 2017, would differ from either a BM-25 or http://38north.org/2017/02/melleman0203 Ghadr/Emad test. If a single-stage missile 17/) based on Sajjil technology were tested, its flight path and acceleration profile during boost phase would be different from that Iran's IRGC tests new missiles in air de- of a one-meter Scud. Given these differ- fense drills ences, it is difficult to imagine that the US Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps government does not know the identity (IRGC) test-fired new missiles in the on- of the missiles tested last July and in going air defense drills on February 4, January 2017. 2017, semi-official Mehr news agency re- The strategic implications of Tehran’s reported. The missiles included home-made cent missile test and the possibility of short-range and medium-range systems, continued missile cooperation with Py- the report said. The indigenous missile of ongyang vary depending on what was 3-Khordad, which was test-fired on Feb- actually launched. If the Khorramshahr ruary 4, 2017, has a range of 75km and was a Shahab-3 variant based, in part, on can soar to altitudes up to 30 km. It is ca- old Nodong technology acquired from pable of engaging in electronic warfare North Korea years ago, then Iran is keep- and incorporates the latest cutting-edge ing with a pattern it has pursued over the technology and scrambling on multiple past half dozen years—prioritizing targets in lower radar cross-section greater accuracy and enhanced military (RCS). utility. However, it would not be evidence Another tested missile of Tabas has a of ongoing missile cooperation with range of 60 km and soars to the altitude North Korea. If the test involved either a of 30 km. It is designed and manufac- one-meter Scud or a single-stage version tured by the IRGC and is highly agile in of the Sajjil, then Iran has refocused its offensive and defensive positions. The missile acquisition efforts in an attempt third one tested was Sayyad-2 missile sys- to diversify its stockpile and increase op- tem which has the same features as Ta- erational flexibility. In this case, only the bas and has been designed by Iranian development of a one-meter Scud would Ministry of Defense, according to Mehr. indicate ongoing cooperation with Py- Also, IRGC deployed three radar systems ongyang. Finally, in the least likely sce- in the drills on February 4, 2017. Ghadir nario, if the Khorramshahr did employ an long-range radar system with 3D detect- R-27 engine, which uses high- ing feature can capture the aerial threats performance propellants, it would signify as far as 1100 km away. Ghadir is capable

20 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

of detecting stealth drones and other ae- The reported test comes less than a rial vehicles and can even trace the tar- week after Trump signaled sanctions on gets. Matla'alfajr and Kavosh radar sys- Iran with an early morning message on tems are capable of detecting the threats Twitter, citing the Tehran government's up to 500km and 150km respectively. They recent missile tests. The sanctions — can also detect cruise missiles and drones which have been in the pipeline for flying in lower altitudes. months — said nothing about the nuclear deal between Iran and six world The IRGC launched a major air defense powers including the U.S., which Trump drill, dubbed Defenders of Velayat, on attacked during his presidential cam- February 4, 2017, official IRNA news paign. agency reported. The military exercise is carried out in the area of 35,000 square The sanctions affect 13 Iranian individuals kilometers in Semnan region in the cen- and 12 companies, freezing any property tral-north of Iran. The maneuver is aimed or funds they may have under U.S. juris- at enhancing the preparedness of the diction. The Treasury Department also IRGC units in the face of threats. said that "U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited The home-grown radar systems, com- from engaging in transactions" with mandment tactics, as well as control and those on the sanctions list. (Iran launches electronic warfare systems will be put in surface-to-air missile, reports say, USA the test in the exercise, the report said. Today, by Charles Ventura, 09 February, Last week, Iran launched a ballistic missile 2017, test, which drew a stern warning from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/w Washington. Iran dismissed the U.S. con- orld/2017/02/09/iran-missile-united- cerns saying that the test was aimed at states/97677040/) deterrence purposes. (Iran's IRGC tests new missiles in air defense drills, CCTV News, 05 February, 2017, Iran launches 'advanced' rockets during http://english.cctv.com/2017/02/05/ARTIKV military exercises wWcoBEQAUIUEFQmmfC170205.shtml) Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard has

launched several sophisticated rockets Iran launches surface-to-air missile, re- during military exercises, Iranian media ports say reported on February 17, 2017. Iran fired a surface-to-air missile February The semi-official Tasnim news agency, 8, 2017, days after President Trump's ad- considered to be close to the Revolution- ministration sanctioned Iranian individuals ary Guard, said the launch of the "smart and companies tied to recent missile and advanced'' rockets came during an tests, multiple reports say. annual three-day maneuver which began on February 17, 2017 in Iran's central de- • CNN, citing a U.S. official, said Iran sert. Later on February 17, 2017, state TV launched the defensive missile from the showed footage of several rockets same pad used for a medium-range mis- launching from the back of trucks in the sile test that failed earlier this month. The desert. rocket, described as a short-range surface-to-air missile, impacted 35 miles Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, head of the away, Fox News reported. Revolutionary Guards' ground forces told the channel that rockets with ranges of

21 International Strategic Review

more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) as another missile on the same launchpad well as the Fajr-3, Fajr-4 and Fajr-5 rock- near Semnan, about 140 miles east of Te- ets, all believed to have under 100- hran, before it was removed. kilometer range, were all successfully Washington called on the Security Coun- tested in the exercise. Pakpour said the cil to look into the missile launch, arguing tests send a message to any of Iran's po- that it violated UNSC Resolution 2231, tential adversaries: "We are ready to give which backs an international nuclear deal a crushing respond to any threat.'' (Iran between Iran and six world powers. The launches 'advanced' rockets during mili- resolution calls upon Iran “not to under- tary exercises, The Economic Times, 20 take any activity related to ballistic mis- February, 2017, siles designed to be capable of delivering http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne nuclear weapons, including launches us- ws/defence/iran-launches-advanced- ing such ballistic missile technology,” un- rockets-during-military- til eight years after the implementation exercises/articleshow/57253960.cms) of the deal.

This while Tehran insists that its missiles Iran says has increased precision of its are not capable of carrying nuclear war- long-range ballistic missiles heads and are for defense only. Iran uses its “conventional” missiles to Iran now has long-range ballistic missiles “legitimately” defend its territory, Iranian with greater precision, its defense minis- Foreign Minister Zarif stated. (Iran says ter said on February 23, 2017, rejecting has increased precision of its long-range reports that Tehran has halted its missile ballistic missiles, Tehran Times, 23 Febru- program after a recent missile launch that ary, 2017, drew a response from Washington. “We http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/41137 have increased the range and precision of 5/Iran-says-has-increased-precision-of-its- our long-range, ground-to-ground ballistic long-range-ballistic) missiles,” Hossein Dehqan was quoted as saying in an event in Noushahr, northern Iran. Iran successfully launches latest cruise “We have achieved greater precision in missile longer ranges,” he added. The Iranian Iran’s latest developed cruise missile army has also managed to increase shelf ‘Nasir’ has been successfully test fired life of its missiles up to 20 years, Dehqan during massive naval drills on Mon., De- explained. On Jan. 29, Iran launched a fense Minister Hossein Dehghan an- new type of medium-range ballistic mis- nounced today. sile prompting an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Jan. 31. Iran’s Minister of Defense Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan announced that the A day later the White House issued a latest domestically developed naval strongly worded statement from National cruise missile named ‘Nasir’ has been suc- Security Adviser Mike Flynn putting Iran cessfully launched and hit the predeter- "on notice." President Trump tweeted a mined targets during Velayat 95 drill. similar statement soon after. Days after the missile test, American intelligence The last stage of the massive naval drill officials claimed that Iran had quickly codenamed Velayat 95 is currently under- cleaned up the same site and prepared way on southern waters covering an area

22 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

of two million square kilometers all the on Iran in exchange for the country roll- way from the Strait of Hurmuz, the Sea of ing back its nuclear program. Oman, North Indian Ocean and Bab-el- Under the deal, Iran has committed to Mandeb to 10° latitudes. The naval maneu- keep its level of uranium enrichment at ver was launched on February 26, 2017 up to 3.67 percent. Talking about the is- morning at the order of Navy Commander sue, Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. (Iran suc- highlighted in December that in develop- cessfully launches latest cruise missile, ing the propulsion systems his country Mehr News, 27 February, 2017, will act according to the International http://en.mehrnews.com/news/123867/Ira Atomic Energy Agency’s safeguards n-successfully-launches-latest-cruise- agreement. (Iranian submarines to use missile ) nuclear-fuelled propellers, Tehran Times, 15 February, 2017, http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/41111 Delivery Vehicles-Submarine 7/Iranian-submarines-to-use-nuclear- fuelled-propellers) Iranian submarines to use nuclear-fuelled propellers Delivery Vehicles- Aircraft Iran’s defense minister said on February No Updates 14, 2017 that there is need for the country to develop technology to use nuclear- propulsion systems for its submarines and Space heavy ships. “We need to use nuclear energy in marine propulsion systems designed for submarines or heavy ships,” he Iran Unveils 2 New Homegrown Satel- was quoted as saying in the first Marine lites Propulsion Conference in Tehran. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Feb- Nuclear-fuelled marine propellers have an ruary 1, 2017 unveiled 3 new achieve- environmental and economic edge over ments in the space industry, including alternatives which run on fossil fuels. “We two satellites manufactured by domestic have plans to utilize nuclear energy in the experts and academic centers. In a cere- marine sector,” he added. In December, mony in Tehran marking the National Day President Hassan Rouhani, ordered the of Space Technology, President Rouhani development of nuclear-propulsion sys- unveiled the Nahid-1 (Venus-1) and tem for ships, describing the move as a Payam-e-Amirkabir (Amirkabir’s mes- response to the extension of the Iran sage) satellites, as well as an orbital ma- Sanctions Act by the U.S. Congress in De- neuvering system dubbed Saman-1. cember. The president also paid a visit to an exhi- Rouhani also ordered a study of fuel pro- bition of achievements of Iranian Space duction for the propulsion system, setting Research Center (ISRC), held on the side- a three-month deadline for a progress re- lines of the ceremony. Known as Iran’s port on the project. To Iran, the extension first telecommunication satellite, Nahid-1 contravened the 2015 international nu- has been developed by the ISRC experts. clear deal with six powers, including the The technology used in making the satel- U.S., which removed economic sanctions lite is one that has been the basis for

23 International Strategic Review

Iran’s progress in the communication sat- Ground Forces Brigadier General ellite technology. Nahid-1 uses photo- Mohammad Pakpour told Tasnim news voltaic solar panels in orbit and uses the agency on February 26, 2017. The IRGC Ku band for communication. Ground Forces possesses and has used various state-of-the-art military equip- The other satellite, Payam-e-Amirkabir, ment, including combat drones, in differ- has been made in Tehran’s Amirkabir Uni- ent maneuvers showcasing the country’s versity of Technology with the mission to defense prowess. take surveying images at resolutions be- low 40 meters. Equipped with a range of The IRGC Ground Forces started three- homegrown technologies, the satellite day massive military drills, codenamed will go into orbit with a local carrier. An- Payambar-e-A’azam 11 (Great Prophet 11), other major achievement made by the on February 20 in northeastern Iran with ISRC technicians is Saman-1, a system for its motto being “demonstration of power controlling the orbital transition of satel- and enduring stability.” The maneuvers lites. For the first mission, Saman-1 will be featured the IRGC’s drone, artillery, air used to transfer a 100-kilogram satellite defense, and infantry units. IRGC Ground from a low Earth orbit about 400 km Forces also practiced reconnaissance mis- above the Earth's surface to a higher ellip- sions using the Corps’ drones. tical orbit at an altitude of 700 km. In October 2016, the IRGC unveiled a Iran has in recent years made great head- combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), ways in manufacturing satellites. It called Saeqeh (Thunderbolt). Saeqeh is a launched into orbit its first indigenous long-range drone capable of carrying four data-processing satellite, Omid (Hope), in smart and precision-guided bombs and February 2009. In January 2013, Iran sent can strike targets with high precision. It is a monkey into space aboard an indige- one of the Simorgh-class drones, which is nous bio-capsule code-named Pishgam the Iranian version of the US RQ-170 Sen- (Pioneer). (Iran Unveils 2 New Home- tinel stealth aircraft. In December 2012, grown Satellites, Tasnim News Agency, 01 the IRGC captured a US ScanEagle drone February, 2017, over the Persian Gulf waters upon its in- https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2 trusion into the Iranian airspace. 017/02/01/1314846/iran-unveils-2-new- In the same month the previous year, homegrown-satellites ) Iran downed a US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft with minimal damage. The drone was flying over the Iranian city of Kash- Other Platforms mar, near the Afghan border, when it was brought down. (IRGC Ground Forces IRGC Ground Forces launch drone organi- launch drone organization, Press TV, 26 zation February, 2017, http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/02/26/51 Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps 2198/Iran-IRGC-Ground-Forces-drone- Ground Forces have established an or- organization-Mohammad-Pakpour) ganization specializing in using drones in military operations. “We… have set up a drone center and organization, which has bases in operational areas, and is currently active,” Commander of IRGC

24 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

the upcoming Conference on Disarma- PAKISTAN ment (CD). Experienced FMCT experts also participated in the meeting. "It is incumbent on us to stand up for our Nuclear own interest. We want an assurance that Pakistan opposes nuclear, conventional India's whole three stage nuclear power arms race in region programme would be under safeguards," Akhtar said, Pakistan will not agree to According to Business Recorder, Mainte- FMCT until it gets the assurance from nance of peace and stability in South Asia India. He said negotiating a treaty that is the cornerstone of Pakistan's policy as only bans future production of fissile ma- we are opposed to nuclear or conven- terial without taking into account the tional arms race in the region, Foreign Of- existing stockpiles would freeze "the ex- fice spokesperson February 1, said Paki- isting asymmetries". (Pakistan wants In- stan's nuclear capability is solely for self- dia's entire nuclear programme under defense and we are committed to credi- IAEA safeguards, Dawn, 06 February, ble minimum deterrence, Nafees Zakaria 2017, during the weekly briefing at the foreign https://www.dawn.com/news/1313090/pa office said. Responding to a query he said kistan-wants-indias-entire-nuclear- India's massive arms-buying spree and the programme-under-iaea-safeguards) consequent conventional asymmetry continue to be a threat to regional peace and stability. Pakistan does not want to in- India has built ‘secret nuclear city’, dulge in any arms race and remains com- claims Pakistan mitted to pursuing arms control and re- According to The Financial Express, India straint measures. We believe that the re- has accumulated a stockpile of nuclear gion's scarce resources should be devoted weapons which threaten to undermine to the socioeconomic uplift of its people, the strategic balance of power in the re- he remarked. (Pakistan opposes nuclear, gion, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on conventional arms race in region, Business February 10. Foreign Office spokesman Recorder, 02 February, 2017, Nafees Zakaria claimed that India has http://www.brecorder.com/2017/02/02/33 also built a “secret nuclear city” and has 6241) been conducting tests on intercontinental missile reported Dawn news- Pakistan wants India's entire nuclear pro- paper. Steps such as these, Zakaria said, gramme under IAEA safeguards are impacting the existing balance of power in the region. According to Dawn, Pakistan wants India to bring its entire civilian nuclear pro- “Pakistan remains committed to the prin- gramme under the safeguards laid out by ciples of peaceful existence with all of its the International Atomic Energy Commis- neighbours, including India,” he said. Za- sion (IAEA), a press release quoting Direc- karia said India had been “exposed” by tor General Disarmament at the Foreign the failure of its efforts to isolate Paki- Office Kamran Akhtar said. Akhtar was stan, and added that the Indian govern- speaking at a round-table discussion in ment should reciprocate the steps taken Islamabad on Fissile Material Cut-Off by Pakistan for peace. A study published Treaty (FMCT), organised to prepare for by the Institute of Strategic Studies Is-

25 International Strategic Review

lamabad in 2016 claimed that India has despite currently strained ties. The key sufficient fissile material and the technical agreement was extended for the next capacity to produce between 356 and 492 five years (2017-2022), said a statement nuclear bombs. (India has built ‘secret issued by the Foreign Office on February nuclear city’, claims Pakistan, The Finan- 20. cial Express, 10 February, 2017, The agreement came into force in 2007. It http://www.financialexpress.com/world- was subsequently extended for a period news/india-has-built-secret-nuclear-city- of five years in 2012. The accord is part of claims-pakistan-2/546438/ ) the nuclear confidence building measures agreed between Pakistan and India. The aimed of the agreement is to promote a Falling Economy and Rising Nuke Arsenal stable environment of peace and security Make Pakistan the Most Dangerous between the two countries, reads the Country for World official handout. “It is premised on the According to The India Times, Pakistan is recognition that the nuclear dimension of probably the "most dangerous country" the security environment of the two in the world, a former CIA official has said, countries adds to their responsibility for citing the potential dangers emanating avoidance of conflict,” the statement from its failing economy, rampant terror- added. (Pakistan, India extend nuclear ism and one of fastest growing nuclear safety agreement, The Express Tribune, arsenal. Kevin Hulbert, a former CIA Sta- 21 February, 2017 tion Chief in Islamabad, warned that the https://tribune.com.pk/story/1334606/pak "failure" of Pakistan would have implica- istan-india-extend-nuclear-safety- tions for the world. Pakistan is like the agreement/) bank that is "too big to fail", or "too big to allow to fail" more appropriately because allowing the bank to fail could have Former Chinese nuclear engineer: ‘We’ve catastrophic impacts on the greater econ- been transferring nuclear technology to omy. (Falling Economy and Rising Nuke Pakistan’ Arsenal Make Pakistan the Most Danger- According to NTD TV, after two nuclear ous Country for World, India Times, 16 tests last year and a new ballistic missile February, 2017, launch on Feb. 12, North Korea has in- http://www.indiatimes.com/news/world/f vited fresh denunciation and economic alling-economy-and-rising-nuclear-arsenal- sanctions from the international commu- make-pakistan-the-most-dangerous- nity. Even China has been concerned as country-in-the-world-claims-former-cia- Pyongyang’s development of nuclear official-271659.html) weapons threatens Beijing’s ability to rein in its capricious ally. In past years, the assistance North Korea received from Pakistan, India extend nuclear safety Pakistan in developing its nuclear weap- agreement ons has been well-publicized. In the 2005 According to The Express Tribune, Paki- article “New Players on the Scene: A.Q. stan and India have agreed to extend Khan and the Nuclear Black Market,” U.S. their bilateral agreement on reducing the Air Force Col. Charles D. Lutes revealed risk from accidents relating to nuclear the role Islamabad played in spreading weapons in a move suggesting the two nuclear technology to North Korea and rivals are still mindful of nuclear dangers Iran. Now, insider sources in China have

26 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

indicated it was Beijing that indirectly sup- Growler), the Pakistan military is now plied North Korea by aiding Pakistan’s de- purportedly considering purchasing a velopment of nuclear technology and gift- number of S-400 units as well, a high- ing it critical raw materials. (Former Chi- ranking Pakistan military official told Rus- nese nuclear engineer: ‘We’ve been trans- sian state media on February 15. “Russia ferring nuclear technology to Pakistan’, has good tanks, helicopters, electronic NTD TV, 28 February, 2017, equipment, air defense systems that http://www.ntd.tv/2017/02/28/former- Pakistan may consider. S-400 is a big chinese-nuclear-engineer-weve- ticket number and it will all depend on transferring-nuclear-technology-pakistan/) our budget,” the military official told Sputnik News, the foreign language arm

of Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Delivery Vehicles: Missile Pakistan officially spends about $7 billion annually on defense, although the real Pakistan Condemns Latest missile test number may be substantially higher, and conducted by North Korea is in the process of modernizing its military forces. Yet while the country’s econ- According to Radio Pakistan, Pakistan has omy has grown a solid 4.7 percent in condemned the latest missile test con- 2016 and is expected to continue to ex- ducted by the Democratic People’s Re- pand by 5 percent in 2017 (partially due public of Korea in violation of the UN Se- to Chinese investments under the Chi- curity Council Resolutions. Foreign Office nese-led China-Pakistan Economic Corri- Spokesman, in a statement in Islamabad dor) allowing for a modest military today called upon North Korea to refrain spending increase, the Pakistan military’s from any step that undermines the pros- big ticket budget priorities are clearly on pects of regional peace and stability. The new combat aircraft, submarines, sur- Spokesman also called upon the DPRK to face warships, and the country’s various refrain from actions which run counter to indigenous missiles programs. (Will Paki- the objective of reaching a peaceful and stan Buy Russia’s S-400 Missile Air De- diplomatic solution to the issue within the fense System?, The Diplomat, 17 Febru- framework of the Six Party Talks. ary, 2017, (Pakistan Condemns Latest missile test http://thediplomat.com/2017/02/will- conducted by North Korea, Radio Paki- pakistan-buy-russias-s-400-missile-air- stan, 28 February, 2017, defense-system/) http://www.radio.gov.pk/14-Feb- 2017/pakistan-condemn-latest-missile-test- conducted-by-north-korea) Delivery Vehicles: Aircraft

Will Pakistan Buy Russia’s S-400 Missile Pakistan to Order 50 More Fighter Jets Air Defense System in 2017 According to The Diplomat, Responding According to The Diplomat, The Pakistan to the recent news that India and Russia Air Force (PAF) will likely place an order will ink a contract in 2017 for the procure- for 50 Pakistan Aeronautical Com- ment of four to five regiments of Russian- plex/Chengdu Aerospace Corporation made S-400 Triumf advanced Air Defense (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Block-III fighter jets in Systems (NATO reporting name: SA-21 the first half of 2017, according to PAC

27 International Strategic Review

chairman Air Marshall Arshad Malik. The http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2017/02/1 JF-17 is a lightweight, single-engine; multi- 9/pakistan-goes-all-out-to-sell-jf-17- role combat aircraft, powered by a Rus- fighter-jet-to-sri-lanka/) sian-designed-but-Chinese-built Klimov

RD-93 (a RD-33 derivative) turbofan. The aircraft can reach a top speed of Mach 1.6 Pakistan orders more AW139 copters and reportedly has an operational range According to Pakistan Observer, Pakistan of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles). has ordered additional Agusta West land The fighter jet features seven hard points AW139 helicopters intermediate twin en- and can carry up to 3,629 kilograms in gine helicopters, confirmed Italian aero- weaponry and other payloads. The PAF is space and defence firm Leonardo- slated to induct 150 JF-17 combat aircraft Finmeccanica. The additional order was over the next years split into three pro- placed by the Ministry of Defence for an duction blocks: Block-I, Block II, and unspecified number of new helicopters. Block-III. PAC has so far produced 50 The helicopters are expected to perform Block-I aircraft and over 20 out of a total search and rescue (SAR) and emergency order of 50 Block-II JF-17s. According to medical service (EMS) duties in the coun- the PAC chairman in an interview with try. Deliveries for the helicopters are ex- Asian Military Review, Pakistan will pro- pected to start from mid-2017, the de- duce 14 additional JF-17 Block-II aircraft in fence company added. 2017. (Pakistan to Order 50 More Fighter “The AW139 is the perfect fit to Paki- Jets in 2017, The Diplomat, 08 February, stan’s operational environment, deliver- 2017, ing outstanding capabilities with hot and http://thediplomat.com/2017/02/pakistan- high performance unmatched by any to-order-50-more-fighter-jets-in-2017/ ) other existing helicopter type in the same class,” said Leonardo. An agreement was signed and an initial order for the helicop- Pakistan Goes All Out to Sell JF-17 Fighter ter was placed in May 2016. The agree- Jet To Sri Lanka ment was part of a fleet renewal pro- According to The Sunday Leader, Pakistan gramme spread over several stages and is leaving no stone unturned in its at- included a logistics support and training tempt to somehow palm off the techni- package. A total of 11 AW139s are already cally inferior fighter aircraft JF-17 to the in service in Pakistan, with five aircraft hapless Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), the operated for civil protection and trans- ANI News Service reported. Efforts have port tasks. (Pakistan orders more AW139 been made by Islamabad for the past one copters, Pakistan Observer, 23 February, year to convince the Sri Lankan govern- 2017, http://pakobserver.net/pakistan- ment to purchase the aircraft that is orders-more-aw139-copters/ ) jointly developed by Pakistan and China.

Sri Lanka, aware of the technical short- comings and design flaws in the aircraft, Delivery Vehicle: Submarines had earlier decided not to consider the China, Russia, the U.S. Send Warships to deal as previously reported by the Sri Pakistan for naval drills Lankan news site ‘The Sunday Leader’. (Pakistan Goes All Out To Sell JF-17 According to Value Walk, China and Rus- Fighter Jet To Sri Lanka, The Sunday sia have joined Pakistan for its multina- Leader, 27 February, 2017, tional AMAN 2017 Naval exercise amidst

28 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

the India Navy’s largest military exercise stan Navy base located at the Karachi ever, involving more than 60 ships, 5 sub- port. Navies from Australia, China, Indo- marines and 70 aircraft. The Pakistan Navy nesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Russia, kicked off the naval drills on February 10, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Kingdom and with China and Russia dispatching three United States are participating in the ships each. The show of might between joint exercise. (China, Russia, The U.S. Pakistan and India comes amid heated Send Warships To Pakistan For Naval tensions between the two nuclear-armed Drills, Value Walk, 10 February, 2017, neighbors. Two weeks ago, Islamabad http://www.valuewalk.com/2017/02/china and New Delhi engaged in saber-rattling -russia-us-pakistan-navy-drills/ ) by entering a chilling war of nuclear- capable missile tests. Kelvin Hughes to provide Sharp Eye ra- The AMAN 2017, which is held biannually dars for Pakistan's Khalid-class subma- and involves dozens of countries, will run rines through February 14 with the focus on training counterterrorism and counter- According to IHS Janes 360, Kelvin piracy operations at sea. With a total of 37 Hughes has been contracted by the Paki- countries in participation, Russia and stan Navy (PN) to supply the company's China have brought three ships each, I-Band SharpEye Doppler submarine ra- while the United States dispatched four. dar system as part of a mid-life upgrade Turkey, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sri programme for the PN's Khalid-class Lanka and Indonesia have brought one (Agosta 90B) submarines, the UK-based ship each. Overall, a total of 15 ships are manufacturer of maritime navigation, taking part in the naval exercises hosted surveillance, and security radar systems this year. Japan, China’s traditional en- said in a press release on 21 February. emy, is dispatching two of its P-3C Orion "Working with Turkish defence contrac- aircraft. Russia, Nigeria, Maldives and Ma- tor STM, the main contractor for the re- laysia have each dispatched Special Op- furbishment programme, Kelvin Hughes erations Forces detachments to partici- will supply the SharpEye system to the pate in the military drills. AMAN 2017 is first submarine in 2018," said the com- the fifth installment of Pakistan’s multina- pany. The PN currently operates three tional naval drills, as Islamabad previously Khalid-class diesel-electric attack subma- held naval exercises in 2007, 2009, 2011, rines, the latest of which was commis- 2013 and 2015. sioned in 2008. According to Jane's Fighting Ships, Pakistan signed a contract According to The Indian Express, Russian with Turkish company STM in June 2016 Navy’s large anti-submarine ship Sever- to undertake a mid-life refit of one sub- morsk arrived in Pakistan February 8, for marine with an option for the other two. participation in the Aman 2017 interna- (Kelvin Hughes to provide SharpEye ra- tional naval exercises, according to re- dars for Pakistan's Khalid-class subma- ports in news agency Xinhua. This is the rines, IHS Janes 360, 23 February, 2017, second time within six months that Russia http://www.janes.com/article/68120/kelvi and Pakistan are holding joint military ex- n-hughes-to-provide-sharpeye-radars-for- ercises. The ship, that set off from Oman’s pakistan-s-khalid-class-submarines ) port of Salalah, will take part in the naval exercises scheduled on February 8, in the waters of the Arabian Sea and at the Paki- Space

29 International Strategic Review

No updates INDIA Other Vehicles No updates Nuclear

Pakistan Says 'Secret Nuclear City In In- dia,' Delhi Issues Strong Response

Pakistan’s foreign office said India is

building a "secret nuclear city" to produce thermonuclear weapons as well as developing intercontinental missiles and secretly stockpiling nuclear material on 09 February. India described the allega- tion as "a figment of Pakistan's imagination" and an attempt to divert attention from its record of supporting terrorism. The comments about the "secret nuclear city" were made by Pakistani Foreign

Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria at a press conference, without providing evidence or further details.

"The so-called secret city appears to be a

figment of the Pakistan (sic) imagination. India has always been in compliance with all its international obligations," said a statement from the External Affairs Min- istry, which highlighted India's strong standing internationally for a responsible nuclear doctrine. Pakistan's claim comes as India attempts to gain membership of the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG, which control trade in sophisticated

nuclear material and technology. (Pak Says 'Secret Nuclear City In India,' Delhi Issues Strong Response, NDTV, 09 Febru-

ary, 2017, http://www.ndtv.com/india- news/pak-says-secret-nuclear-city-in- india-delhi-issues-strong-response- 1657804)

Uncertainty over U.S. nuclear plants for India The Hindu reports that there is uncer-

30 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

tainty surrounding the construction of Clampdown on unauthorised access to U.S. nuclear reactors in India after Toshiba nuclear material: India's message to Corp decided to move out of the reactor Pakistan building business. Officials said they were India called upon the international com- expecting some clarity in a month after munity to clamp down on terrorism and Toshiba’s Board meeting. “We have not prevent unauthorised access to nuclear had anything on it officially. But what we material and technology in what could be read is that they will be completing the seen as an indirect message to Pakistan's reactors that are under construction. We state and non-state actors who have expect a decision after their Board meet- threatened to use tactical nukes. Foreign ing soon. Our discussion is going on. We Secretary S Jaishankar while noting the don’t have a clear answer to this today, grave threat posed by terrorism to inter- may be in a month,” Sekhar Basu, Secre- national security emphasised the need to tary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), clamp down on terrorism and prevent said. unauthorised access to nuclear material Following the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, India and technology. has been in discussion with Toshiba’s U.S.- "Events that have unfolded around us, based Westinghouse since 2005 to build more so in the past couple of decades, six AP1000 nuclear reactors. After pro- have highlighted that terrorism remains tracted negotiations and concerns on the the most pervasive and serious challenge nuclear liability there were hopes that a to international security. If access to nu- deal would be concluded soon. Last week, clear technology changes State behav- it was reported that Toshiba was planning iour, it is only to be expected that it to withdraw from building nuclear plants would also impact on non-state calcula- in the U.K. and India. Toshiba had actions. Nuclear security, therefore, will be quired the U.S.-based Westinghouse, a continuing concern, especially as ter- which specialises in nuclear reactors, in rorist groups and non-state actors strike 2006. deeper roots and explore different ave- Other officials said discussions were going nues to spread terror. Developing a com- on. The company’s offer on six reactors prehensive global response is the highest was very good, the officials said and priority," opined the Foreign Secretary. hoped that the deal would continue. Jaishankar was speaking at the inaugura- “Normally such big companies don’t shut tion of a three-day meeting of the Imple- down. We are hearing that someone will mentation & Assessment Group (IAG) of bankroll them — either the Japanese gov- the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear ernment or the Japanese Development Terrorism (GICNT) here. Jaishankar com- Bank,” one official said. The NPCIL and mended the work of GICNT in building a Westinghouse had agreed to “work to- world-wide network of experts and prac- wards finalising the arrangements by June titioners towards a holistic approach to 2017.” (Uncertainty over U.S. nuclear nuclear security. GICNT is a voluntary in- plants for India, The Hindu, 09 February, ternational partnership of 86 nations and 2017, http://www.thehindu.com/todays- five international organisations that are paper/tp-national/Uncertainty-over-U.S.- committed to strengthening global ca- nuclear-plants-for- pacity to prevent, detect, and respond to India/article17244276.ece ) nuclear terrorism. (Clampdown on unauthorised access to nuclear material: In-

31 International Strategic Review

dia's message to Pakistan, Economic later, the first unit would start generating Times, 09 February, 2017, power," he added. According to Jain, pur- http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne chase orders for long delivery items have ws/defence/clampdown-on-unauthorised- placed. (Kakrapar nuclear reactors to get access-to-nuclear-material-indias- new coolant channelsm Business Stan- message-to- dard, 31 January, 2017, pakistan/articleshow/57043793.cms ) http://www.business- standard.com/article/news-ians/kakrapar-

nuclear-reactors-to-get-new-coolant- Kakrapar nuclear reactors to get new channels-117013101325_1.html) coolant channels

According to the Business Standard, In- Government may allocate Rs 544 crore dia's atomic power plant operator NPCIL for two nuclear units at Kudankulam on January 31, 2017 said that it will replace power plant the coolant channels in the two power reactors at Kakrapar Atomic Power Sta- The government may allocate around Rs tion (KAPS) in Gujarat at an outlay of 544 crore for setting up of the next two around Rs 500 crore. "We have decided 1,000 MW atomic power units at Ku- to replace the coolant channels of both dankulam in Tamil Nadu. According to the units. The work is on the project the budget papers presented in the Lok mode," Nuclear Power Corporation of Sabha, the government may have to allo- India Ltd (NPCIL) Chairman and Managing cate $80 million (Rs 544 crore approxi- Director S.K. Sharma told. mately) for setting up of the fifth and sixth 1,000 MW nuclear power plant with On the morning of March 11, 2016 the first Russian technology at Kudankulam in reactor at KAPS shut down automatically Tamil Nadu. Already two 1,000 MW units following leakage of heavy water from its have been set up at Kudankulam and con- coolant channel. The leak was plugged struction work for two more similar units ten days later. NPCIL has two 220 MW have begun. A total of six 1,000 MW units units at KAPS. Following the heavy water are planned at Kudankulam and will be leak, unit 1 is under cold shut down. The owned by Nuclear Power Corporation of second unit is under maintenance shut- India Ltd (NPCIL). Meanwhile NPCIL has down since July 2015. been requested to prepare detailed pro- A subsequent study by the Atomic Energy ject report (DPR) for setting up of 10 Regulatory Board (AERB) found unusual units of 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Wa- corrosion spots were found in the coolant ter Reactors over the next 10-15 years. channels in the power reactors. A 220 (Govt. may allocate Rs 544 crore for two MW pressurised heavy water reactor nuclear units at Kudankulam power plant, (PHWR) like the one at KAPS has 306 Hindustan Times, 01 February, 2017, coolant channels and each channel will http://www.hindustantimes.com/india- have 12 fuel bundles. "In all 612 coolant news/govt-may-allocate-rs-544-crore-for- channels in both the units will be two-nuclear-units-at-kudankulam-power- changed," V.K.Jain, Station Director, plant/story- KAPS-1 and 2 units told IANS. "The entire eJ4xk0M8qAF7hG6Kaly4oN.html ) process would take around two-and-half years. First to go on stream would be the second unit and three or four months

32 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

Delivery Vehicles: Missile Vietnam is in the midst of a quiet military buildup that analysts say is designed as a

deterrent, to secure its 200 nautical mile With Akash missile sale, India is likely to Exclusive Economic Zone as China grows provoke China more assertive in staking its claims in the According to Asian Age, India is in talks to South China Sea. sell short range surface-to-air missiles to Vietnam, the head of the defence re- Experts say Vietnam is in the market for search agency said, in what would be its fighter jets and more advanced missile first transfer of such weapons to the systems, in addition to the kilo-class sub- Southeast Asian country. India has been marines it has bought from Russia. India, helping the Vietnamese military with train- whose long-running border dispute with ing and patrol vessels, but a further deep- China remains unresolved, has in the past ening of ties with missile sales could draw considered the sale of its Brahmos super- criticism from China that has been locked sonic missile with a range of 290 km to in a territorial dispute with Hanoi in the Vietnam and has been steadily helping South China Sea. New Delhi is currently Hanoi beef up its defences. Last year, PM talking to a number of countries for sales Modi announced a $500 million credit of its surface-to-air Akash missiles, said S. line to Vietnam to buy defence equip- Christopher, chairman of state-run De- ment, on top of a $100 million given pre- fence Research and Development Organi- viously to help it buy patrol boats. The sation (DRDO). two sides have also agreed for training of The move is in line with Prime Minister Vietnamese air force pilots to operate Su- Narendra Modi's push to establish India as 30 Russian fighter planes. (With Akash an arms exporter. "We are talking to missile sale, India is likely to provoke countries, one of them is none other than China, Asian Age, 16 February, 2017, Vietnam," he told a news conference on http://www.asianage.com/india/all- the sidelines of an air show where the india/160217/with-akash-missile-sale-india- DRDO is showcasing its missile pro- is-likely-to-provoke-china.html ) grammes and other key projects, including a home-grown light combat fighter. Christopher did not provide any details of how many Akash missile batteries the Raytheon, TASL to co-produce Stinger government planned to supply Vietnam. missile components Source: Asian Age According to the India Today, TASL (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons) could produce components of the Stinger missile in India under the Memo- randum of Understanding. Stinger has both surface-to-air and air-to-air applications against a variety of airborne targets. "This collaboration with Raytheon is in keeping with other partnerships that TASL has with global leaders in the defense and aerospace sector. We look for- ward to becoming a key contributor to

33 International Strategic Review

the Stinger missile for India," TASL chief If the air-launched version of the Brah- executive officer and managing director Mos missile is successful, Russia and India Sukaran Singh said. may get a strike system which will be second to none in terms of effectiveness TASL will seek to expand its relationship among conventional airborne weapons, to other missile systems and technolo- Rossiyskaya Gazeta quoted experts as gies, and contribute to the progressive saying. As for the supersonic version of implementation of the Make in India ini- the BrahMos missile, it is expected to be tiative to address multiple objectives of created before the end of 2019, Mishra the government, such as value addition, said, adding that the project is being de- employment, and control over key tech- veloped by Mashinostroyeniya rocket nologies. In 2016, India was one of three design, a Russian NPO bureau, the Mos- international customers to order Stinger cow Aviation Institute and India's De- missiles. India will equip its AH-64 Apache fense Research and Development Organi- helicopters soon to enter service with the zation. (Supersonic BrahMos Russian- Indian Air Force. (Raytheon, TASL to co- Indian Missile Upgraded to Be Launched produce Stinger missile components, In- From Fighters, Sputnik International, 13 dia Today, 17 February, 2017, February, 2017, http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/raytheo https://sputniknews.com/military/2017021 n-tasl-to-co-produce-stinger-missile- 31050628877-russia-india-brahmos- components/1/885233.html ) missile/)

Supersonic BrahMos Russian-Indian Mis- India tests nuclear interceptor missile sile Upgraded to Be Launched From Fighters Enhancing its capability to dealing with a nuclear attack threat, India successfully India is due to test the air-launched ver- test fired a Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) sion of the supersonic Russian-Indian interceptor missile designed to intercept BrahMos cruise missile in the next three and destroy hostile ballistic missiles in months, according to the Rossiyskaya space even before they re-enter the Gazeta. The Russian newspaper quoted Earth's atmosphere on 14 February. The Sudhir Kumar Mishra, chief executive of test took place at 7.45 a.m., and an in- the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos coming missile was successfully inter- Aerospace, as saying that India will test- cepted at a height of 100 km with a direct fire the air-launched version of his com- hit by an interceptor missile, said a De- pany's supersonic Russian-Indian Brah- fence Research and Development Organi- Mos cruise missile in the next three sation (DRDO) official. The PDV can reach months. Mishra also said that the hyper- even higher altitudes. sonic version of the BrahMos missile, capable of flying at a speed of up to 5,000 "India successfully conducted a test kilometres per hour, may be created by wherein an incoming ballistic missile tar- 2020. The 2.5 metric ton supersonic Brah- get was intercepted by an exo- mos air-to-ground missile will be fired atmospheric interceptor missile off the from an Indian Air Force's Sukhoi-30 MKI Bay of Bengal," an official statement said. fighter aircraft that has already under- "With this commendable scientific gone modifications to accommodate the achievement, India has crossed an impor- new weapon. tant milestone in building its overall capability towards enhanced security against

34 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

incoming ballistic missile threats. It has and Systems Testing Establishment of entered an exclusive club of four nations IAF, and NAL is hopeful of its first flight in with developing capabilities to secure its 45 days. The modified Saras will have a skies and cities against hostile threats," it new configuration. While the design is said. for a 14-seater plane, it can be configured to accommodate 19. If the project is re- The two stage PDV missile is part of the vived, Saras will boast of multi-role capa- two layered Ballistic Missile Defence sys- bilities like feeder line aircraft, air ambu- tem developed by the DRDO, the research lance, executive aircraft, troop transport, and development wing of the Defence reconnaissance, aerial survey and light Ministry, with the Hyderabad based Re- cargo transport. The Saras programme search Centre Imaarat (RCI) as the nodal had come crashing after a 2009 accident. laboratory. Its interception window spans The original design included a maximum from 80-120 km. The fully automated sys- takeoff weight of 6,100kg and maximum tem consists of a network of sensors, payload of 1,232kg. The first prototype computers and launchers, designed to which completed its maiden flight on intercept hostile ballistic missiles, possibly May 29, 2004, was overweight at 5,118kg carrying nuclear weapons and destroy compared to the 4,125kg design specifi- them before they can cause any damage. cations. This was the second test of the PDV. (India tests nuclear interceptor missile, 2. The 70-seater aircraft pro- Business Standard, 11 February, 2017, gramme -which has consistently failed to http://www.business- take off from the drawing board -will standard.com/article/news-ians/india- also be revived. As of now, only a paper tests-nuclear-interceptor-missile- design is complete as the project was 117021100584_1.html ) shelved three years ago. The aircraft will now be reconfigured, given that the re-

gional transport police will require capac- Delivery Vehicles: Aircraft ity building. When the project was shelved, NAL projected an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore. The aircraft, India to give new wings to 3 aircraft pro- which will be capable of short takeoff, grammes will be able to operate from smaller air- According to the Times of India, The re- fields and airports that the Regional Con- newed thrust for regional connectivity nectivity Policy is aiming to revive. Part and the Indian Air Force's need to replace of the reconfiguration will be looking at a some of its transport aircraft will see India next-generation turbo prop engine. revive three aircraft programmes, all be- 3. NM5-100, the 5-seater aircraft ing designed in Bengaluru: jointly developed by NAL and Mahindra 1. The re-engined and modified ver- Aerospace, being tested in Australia sion of the 14-seater Saras aircraft. Na- since 201112 after it was felt that the Di- tional Laboratories Limited (NAL), which rector General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) first conceived Saras as a civil aircraft, has lacked the expertise to certify aircraft, been pushing for military certification in will be brought back to India for certifica- the past two years, hoping to sell the air- tion. There have been 12 flights in Austra- craft to the IAF. Saras, a light transport lia. Now the DGCA has improved and aircraft, was handed over to the Aircraft they have about 20 engineers in Ben-

35 International Strategic Review

galuru. (India to give new wings to 3 air- pooling resources to develop a faster, craft programmes, Times of India, 17 Feb- more agile Hawk that can also carry ruary, 2017, smart weapons," adding that wings, avi- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/be onics and a multi-function display system ngaluru/india-to-give-new-wings-to-3- were all supplied by HAL. The Advanced aircraft- Hawk can tote up to three tons of weap- programmes/articleshow/57197428.cms) ons, according to BAE, including laser designation pods, precision-guided muni-

tions, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-ground India Turns Down British Advanced Air- missiles. (No Thanks: India Turns Down craft British Advanced Aircraft, Sputnik Inter- According to the Sputnik International, national, 24 February, 2017 New Delhi’s Air Force has decided not to https://sputniknews.com/military/2017022 make an acquisition request for the Brit- 41050996766-india-declines-british- ish Advanced Hawk trainer aircraft follow- advanced-hawk/) ing a request from India’s Defence Minis- try, due to a recent bribery scandal. Brit- With Sukhoi-30 firing BrahMos in April, ish engineering company Rolls Royce, India can conduct surgical strike 300 km which produces the Hawk, was accused away of bribing officials at Hindustan Aeronau- tics Limited, an Indian state-owned com- While the first carriage flight of Sukhoi-30 pany, between 2005 and 2009, acting as MKI fighter aircraft with BrahMos mis- middlemen by ensuring that the Air Force sile—only a dummy drop—was success- used them to source Adour Mk aero en- fully achieved in June 2016, the firing of gines for the 132 British Hawk advanced the actual supersonic missile is now jet trainers. scheduled for April, as reported by Times of India. This integration will allow India A senior official with IAF said, "We will to order surgical strikes destroying tar- not make any formal request for the Ad- gets about 300 km away. A senior officer vanced Hawk to HAL, and the program privy to the testing process told TOI: will be officially shelved. This is because "The testing is in the advanced stages. A the MoD does not want [to] give addi- few minor marrying issues (integrating tional orders for engines to tainted Rolls- Indian systems with the Russian aircraft) Royce for the Advanced Hawk pro- are being sorted out. We are confident gram…"IAF has no intentions to place that the fighter and the missile will be any order for the Advanced Hawk train- ready for a flight in April." ers." In 2015 HAL and BAE Systems, another British weapons manufacturer, When the Su-30MKI becomes operational signed a memorandum of understanding with BrahMos missiles, it will provide the to develop and produce a trainer with Indian Air Force with its most lethal fight- combat capabilities for export and doing power till date. Indian pilots will no mestic markets. longer be required to fly to heavily defended airspace to strike enemy fighter Dave Corfield, head of India’s Hawk pro- bases, or targets like terrorist camps, nu- gram for BAE, said that, "The Advanced clear installations and military headquar- Hawk has been in the works for two years ters. "Out fighters can launch this missile under a unique model with Hindustan about 300-km from their target and re- Aeronautics (HAL) and BAE Systems is turn to safety. The missile will take care

36 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

of the rest," a senior pilot who flies the Su-30s for IAF said.

The project, which was first conceived in India Showcases New Advanced Hawk 2012, saw defence PSU Hindustan Aero- Aircraft nautics Limited (HAL) take more than two years to handover a modified Su-30MKI The Indian Air Force embraced the op- which could be integrated with the mis- portunity to demonstrate the capabilities sile. After that was achieved, the process of the Advanced Hawk training aircraft, of integration began and the team, in designed and produced by UK-based BAE 2015, ran into some certification issues. Systems, at the Aero India conference Brahmos Aerospace, the lead agency for held in January, as reported by Sputnik the integration, was yet to complete the International. The trainer aircraft is a certification of the launcher that would prime example of the British weapons launch the missile then. The IAF's initial manufacturer’s commitment to Indian requirement is for two Su-30 MKIs with Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s “Make-in- BrahMos, but it eventually wishes to inte- India” concept, said Alan Garwood of grate 216 missiles on 42 Sukhoi fighters. BAE Systems. The “Advanced Hawk is a The project was first conceived in July- great example of Make-in-India, for India August 2012.(With Sukhoi-30 firing Brah- and Export from India,” said Garwood in Mos in April, India can conduct surgical a company statement. strike 300 km away, Times of India, 23 BAE Systems teamed with Hindustan February, 2017, Aeronautics Limited to make the demon- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/s stration possible. “The UK and India have ukhoi-30-to-fire-actual-brahmos-missile-in- so much to offer one another in de- april/articleshow/57315112.cms ) fence,” said Harriet Baldwin MP, the UK Minister for Defence Procurement, following the event. The Advanced Hawk, Russia to join India’s project to develop which is capable of being outfitted with 5th-generation combat aircraft real weapons, allows pilots to easily tran- According to TASS, Russia will take part in the project to develop India’s fifth- generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy of Rus- sia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec Vik- tor Kladov said. According to public sources, the work on the AMCA began in 2008. The fifth-generation multipurpose fighter jet is expected to replace a whole range of warplanes in the Indian Air Force. Media reports said the first flight was scheduled for 2023-2024. (Russia to join India’s project to develop 5th-generation combat aircraft, TASS Russian News Agency, 17 February, 2017, http://tass.com/defense/931198\) Source: Times of India

37 International Strategic Review

day naval drill—the Navy’s largest military exercise ever—off India’s western coast, involving over 60 ships, five submarines, and 70 aircraft. This year’s so- called Theater Readiness Operational Ex- ercise (TROPEX) 2017 “is aimed at testing combat readiness of the combined fleets of the Indian Navy, and the assets of the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the In- dian Coast Guard” and “will also strengthen inter-operability and joint op- Source: Sputnik International erations in a complex environment,” according to the Indian Ministry of Defense. sition from the trainer to F-35s or other cutting-edge aircraft, according to BAE Systems. The exercise involves practicing various anti-submarine warfare scenarios with The new features of the Advanced Hawk Indian diesel-electric attack submarines enable training activities currently per- standing in for People’s Liberation Army formed on frontline fighter aircraft to be Navy and Pakistan Navy submarines. Ac- undertaken on the updated air platform. cording to local media reports, the INS The weapons suite was reported by IHS Chakra, a Russian-made Akula-class nu- Jane’s to include Advanced Short Range clear-powered attack submarine, has Air-to-Air missiles, Brimstone air-to- been hunting “enemy” submarines 200 surface missiles, Paveway laser guided kilometres off Goa’s coast for the past bombs, and Isreali Rafael targeting pods. few days. India is the number-one operator of Hawk trainers, having ordered 123 Hawk aircraft The Indian Navy is also deploying its most to date. The aircraft are built in Ben- advanced maritime patrol/anti-submarine galuru, and “fulfil the Indian Air Force’s warfare aircraft, the P-8I Neptune, to requirements for its prestigious aerobatic support the INS Chakra and track subma- team,” according to a statement. (India rines during the exercise. China has Showcases New Advanced Hawk Aircraft, Sputnik International, 18 February, 2017, https://sputniknews.com/military/2017021 81050808415-india-showcase-advanced- hawk-aircraft/)

Delivery Vehicles: Submarine

Indian Navy Practices Sinking Chinese Subs in Largest-Ever Military Exercise

According to The Diplomat, the Indian Navy is in the middle of conducting a 30- Source: Indian Navy

38 March 2017, Vol.4, No.3

stepped up its submarine patrols in the ellites on June 22, 2016. "One hundred Indian Ocean over the past two years as and four satellites have been put into well as its surface naval presence. Further- orbit," Indian Space Research Organisa- more, China is slated to provide the Paki- tion (ISRO) Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar stan Navy with eight modified diesel- said soon after the launch, congratulat- electric attack submarines by 2028. As I ing the space agency's team on its suc- reported before, Beijing has also purport- cess. (India puts record 104 satellites into edly resumed construction of Type 039B orbit in single mission, Economic Times, Yuan-class diesel-electric attack subma- February, 2017, rines (SSK)–one of the quietest submarine http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne classes in the Chinese Navy’s arsenal. ws/science/india-puts-record-104- (Indian Navy Practices Sinking Chinese satellites-into-orbit-in-single- Subs in Largest-Ever Military Exercise, The mission/articleshow/57197628.cms) Diplomat, 10 February, 2017, http://thediplomat.com/2017/02/indian- navy-practices-sinking-chinese-subs-in- Other Platforms largest-ever-military-exercise/) No updates

Space

India puts record 104 satellites into orbit in single mission India created a world record by successfully putting into orbit 104 satellites, including the country's own Cartosat-2earth observation satellite, in a single mission on 17 February. With the launch, ISRO sur- passed the 37 satellite launch record set by a Russian rocket on June 19, 2014. The co-passenger satellites comprised 101 nano satellites, one each from Israel, Ka- zakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UAE and 96 from the US, as well as two nano satellites from the US, as well as two nano satellites from India.

Source: ISRO The total weight of all the satellites carried on-board is about 1,378 kg. Multiple satellite launches with a PSLV rocket is not new for ISRO, having launched 20 sat-

National Institute of Advanced Studies International Strategic & Security Studies Programme (ISSSP)