Satellite Integration and Multiple Independently Retargetable Reentry Vehicles Technology: Indian–United States Civilian Space Cooperation

Abstract

Raising questions about India–United States (U.S.) civilian space cooperation, arguments have been advanced that such cooperation will enable the growth of India's warhead integration capacity. This paper will demonstrate that concerns about India–U.S. civilian space cooperation leading to India's development of a Multiple Independently Retargetable Vehicle (MIRV) capability are unfounded. Despite the dual-use nature of space and missile related technologies, the analysis shows that the inference or deduction is flawed. The hypothesis adopted by proponents tends to treat integration of satellites and their orbital dispensation, and integration of multiple warheads and their delivery vehicles as though they are identical processes. Proceeding from limited evidence to substantiate their hypothesis that conflates satellite integration and warhead integration proponents have ended up obscuring and overlooking the fact that India already possesses incipient space technologies that are relevant to the development of MIRV-tipped missiles. This does not mean that it can immediately secure a full-fledged MIRV capability, because there are a range of other technical conditions that would affect its development of MIRV technology.