According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2026 published in June, India has operationally deployed 12 nuclear warheads for the first time. This marks a significant departure from decades of cautious policy where India strictly stockpiled warheads and delivery systems in separate locations.

The newly deployed warheads are believed to be nested within its nuclear submarines and potentially underground missile silos to shorten reaction times. The assessment highlights that India’s total estimated inventory has risen from 180 warheads last year to 190 currently.

The report claims that this is the first time part of India’s arsenal has been classified as operationally deployed rather than just stockpiled. This shift signals the maturation of India’s sea-based deterrent (such as its Arihant-class submarines) and heightened readiness to counter rapidly expanding arsenals in the region (such as that of China, for instance).

By deploying a small number of warheads (12 out of 190, as per SIPRI) on a ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and conducting deterrence patrols, India seems to have achieved “continuous at-Sea deterrence,” a military strategy where a country keeps at least one nuclear-armed SSBN continuously patrolling the oceans undetected.

Despite this operational shift in posture, India maintains its foundational No-First-Use (NFU) doctrine. India’s capability is designed purely to deter potential aggressors rather than engage in an arms race.

India faces a uniquely fraught security environment, with two nuclear‑armed neighbors. New Delhi has ongoing territorial disputes and a history of war with both of them. It is therefore important to understand how India’s deployment compares with the nuclear postures of China and Pakistan.

China’s nuclear weapons program

China possesses the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal, with an estimated stockpile of over 620 warheads, SIPRI estimates. The program is undergoing a rapid modernization and expansion, shifting from a historical policy of “minimal deterrence” to a robust nuclear triad. China could potentially have at least as many ICBMs as either Russia or the USA by 2030, depending on how it decides to structure its forces. China’s land-based ICBMs include missiles such as the DF-5B and the highly mobile DF-41. Hundreds of new missile silos have been constructed in remote regions to improve the survivability of forces.

The PLA Navy operates a fleet of Type 094 (Jin-class) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines armed with Julang-3 missiles. The PLA Air Force deploys the H-6N, an intermediate-range, nuclear-capable bomber. Since its first nuclear test in 1964, China has maintained NFU as the official policy.

The primary purpose of China’s modernization is to ensure a secure “second-strike” capability. Experts report that elements of China’s nuclear forces have moved towards a launch-on-warning posture, meaning they are ready to retaliate while incoming missiles are still in flight rather than waiting for them to detonate. China continues to upgrade its supporting infrastructure, including plutonium production capabilities and advanced explosive testing........

© RT.com