WMDs are for deterrence; not meant for regular combat use. They primarily target population centers. Use means self-destruction of each other—mutually assured destruction (MAD). Minimum viable (and guaranteed) deterrence is credible enough to prevent use by the opposition. Anything extra is a waste of resources.Vips wrote:
Nuclear force: Why India needs to increase its nuclear stockpile.
In the case of a nuclear strike, India’s leadership should focus on a comprehensive counter-offensive strategy aimed at removing an adversary’s ability to cause further harm to Indian interests. For this strategy to be successful India needs to drastically increase its stockpile of nuclear weapons so that it dwarfs the combined nuclear stockpile of both China and Pakistan.
…
Instead of spending higher amounts for 1000s of warheads, spend a fraction of that cost in deception tactics whereby for let’s say 100 warheads you have 2000+ dummy sites; hence, smaller stockpiles more survivable from first strike.