For our purposes, India has been designated as a Tier 3 state because while it may not be considering it now, the state does have the necessary components to develop an SNR in the future. India’s space agency is ranked one of the best in the world, has demonstrated satellite launch capabilities, and has a close partnership with Russia’s space program, which possesses SNRs. India also has its own stockpile of HEU and its own enrichment facilities. Thus, if India did decide to pursue an SNR in the future, it might well use HEU.

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As of 2019, there is no publicly available information suggesting India is interested in developing a nuclear space reactor. Dr. Jaganath Sankaran from the LBJ School of Public Affairs, however, suggests that this may change if China is successful with developing a SNR. This is due to the growing rivalry between India and China to rank among the top three space agencies in Asia by or around 2030. [1] Although India has made extraordinary progress in the past few years, it has yet to match China’s space capabilities. [2] Reports indicate that the Chinese government is not currently pursuing a SNR, but that it does have plans to do so in the future. [3] When China does decide to develop a nuclear space reactor, India may not be far behind. Further discussion on China’s nuclear space reactor aspirations can be found by clicking the tab titled “China.”

 

Since 1975, India’s space program (ISRO) has enjoyed a close partnership with Russia. [4] Today, the space program remains one of the key pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries. [5] Over the years, Russia has provided India support in launching its first satellite, has provided cosmonaut training to pilots from the Indian Air Force, and has assisted in India’s creation of its regional satellite navigation system. [6] Most recently, Russia has agreed to transfer critical technology to India’s Gaganyaan project, which will be India’s first manned space mission and is set for 2022. [7] According to an official release, Russia and India have also discussed cooperation in futuristic technologies, including rocket engines, propellants and propulsion systems, launch technology, and spacecraft technology. [8]

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India’s strategic cooperation with Russia is not limited to space--it also extends to its civilian nuclear program. Following the India-Russia Business Summit in 2018, India and Russia signed a pact to build six more Russian-designed nuclear reactors at a new site in India. [9] In 2019, Russia agreed to build twenty more nuclear plants. [10] Russia is currently the only foreign partner to build nuclear reactors in India.[11]

 

Unlike Japan or South Korea, there are no publicly available papers originating from Indian researchers providing designs for a SNR. However, if India does become interested in space reactors, it is likely that it would have the knowledge and resources to do so. As of 2018, India’s stockpile of HEU is estimated at 4.0 ± 1.4 tons. [12] India currently operates two uranium enrichment facilities, a pilot plant at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), and the larger Rattehalli Rare Materials Project (RMP). [13] In 2011, India announced its intent to build another large uranium enrichment plant in the state of Karnataka. [14] The enrichment plant was to be located at the Challakere facility, which is supposed to be “the subcontinent’s largest military-run complex of nuclear centrifuges, atomic-research laboratories, and weapons-and aircraft-testing facilities.” [15] While the current status of the enrichment plant at Challakere is unclear, India already has the ability to enrich with or without this plant. 

 

Lastly, India operates two nuclear-propelled submarines, fueled with HEU and equipped with nuclear ballistic missiles. [16] Because India currently uses its stockpile of HEU to fuel its submarine reactors, if India does decide to design a SNR in the future, it could use HEU fuel. 

 

In light of its space program’s close alliance with Russia, its campaign to become a leading space agency, its stockpile of HEU, and its enrichment capabilities, India may well pursue HEU-fueled nuclear space reactors in the future.

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[1] Jaganath Sankaran, "Correspondence." Email. 2020. 

[2] Cameron Hickert, “Space Rivals: Power and Strategy in the China-India Space Race,” Schwarzman Scholars, accessed November 20, 2019, https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/news-article/space-rivals-power-strategy-china-india-space-race/.

[3] Stephen Chen, “China’s nuclear spaceships will be ‘mining asteroids and flying tourists’ as it aims to overtake US in space race,” South China Morning Post, November 17, 2017, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2120425/chinas-nuclear-spaceships-will-be-mining-asteroids.

[4] M. Somasekhar, “India-Russia space collaboration takes flight again,” The Hindu BusinessLine, published on September 5, 2019, https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/india-russia-space-collaboration-takes-flight-again/article29340757.ece.

[5] “70 Years of India-Russia: Space Exploration,” Make in India, accessed November 20, 2019, http://www.makeinindia.com/article/-/v/70-years-of-india-russia-space-exploration.

[6] M. Somasekhar, “India-Russia space collaboration takes flight again,” The Hindu BusinessLine, published on September 5, 2019, https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/india-russia-space-collaboration-takes-flight-again/article29340757.ece.

[7] Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, “Russia to share critical technology for India’s Gaganyaan project; assist entry into International Space Station,” The Economic Times, updated July 12, 2019, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/russia-to-share-critical-technology-for-indias-gaganyaan-project-assist-entry-into-intl-space-station/articleshow/70194179.cms.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Sanjeev Miglani, Geert De Clercq, “Russia signs pact for six nuclear reactors on a new site in India,” Reuters, October 5, 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-russia-nuclear/russia-signs-pact-for-six-nuclear-reactors-on-new-site-in-india-idUSKCN1MF217.

[10] “New Delhi, Moscow exchange 15 MoUs; Russia to build 20 more nuclear power plants in India, says Putin,” Eleven Media Group Co., Ltd., September 5, 2019, https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/new-delhi-moscow-exchange-15-mous-russia-to-build-20-more-nuclear-power-plants-in-india-says.

[11] Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, “Russia to share critical technology for India’s Gaganyaan project; assist entry into International Space Station,” The Economic Times, updated July 12, 2019, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/russia-to-share-critical-technology-for-indias-gaganyaan-project-assist-entry-into-intl-space-station/articleshow/70194179.cms.

[12] “India: Overview,” Nuclear Threat Initiative, updated June 2019, https://www.nti.org/learn/countries/india/.

[13] “Countries: India,” International Panel on Fissile Materials, February 12, 2018, http://fissilematerials.org/countries/india.html.

[14] David Albright, Serena Kelleher-Vergantini, “India’s New Uranium Enrichment Plant in Karnataka,” Institute for Science and International Security, July 1, 2014, http://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/indias-new-uranium-enrichment-plant-in-karnataka1.

[15] Adrian Levy, “India Is Building a Top-Secret Nuclear City to Produce Thermonuclear Weapons, Experts Say,” Foreign Policy, December 16, 2015, https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/12/16/india_nuclear_city_top_secret_china_pakistan_barc/.

[16] “At Sea Over Naval HEU: Expanding Interest in Nuclear Propulsion Poses Proliferation Challenges,” Nuclear Threat Initiative, November 29, 2010, https://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/expanding-nuclear-propulsion-challenges/.