Indian Navy's Yoga Day Pictures Expose Nuclear Revamp | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Summary

An amusing revelation shows how yoga photos posted by the Indian Navy inadvertently exposed the decommissioning of nuclear missile systems on two offshore patrol vessels, INS Subadra and INS Subarna. The Federation of American Scientists used these images to deduce that the ships are no longer nuclear-capable, as deck markings no longer matched satellite images. Despite the humorous source, it confirms India's updated, more potent nuclear stance, with the INS Arant submarine now capable of carrying ballistic missiles. The incident highlights the importance of information security in the digital age.

Takeaways

• 😀 India has three platforms for launching nuclear weapons: air, land, and sea.
• 🚢 Two Indian offshore patrol vehicles, INS Subadra and INS Subarna, were equipped with a special missile stabilizer for launching nuclear weapons.
• 🔍 The Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a nonprofit organization, claimed that the nuclear weapons have been removed from these ships based on yoga pictures.
• 🧘‍♂️ The Indian Navy posted yoga pictures on social media, which inadvertently revealed the absence of the missile stabilizer, suggesting the removal of nuclear capabilities.
• 📸 The deck markings in the yoga pictures matched those in satellite imagery, confirming the absence of the missile systems.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Experts had anticipated the retirement of the missile system, and the yoga-related revelation was not a surprise.
• 🚀 The current location of the missiles is unknown, and they may be returned to the stockpile.
• 💣 India now has a nuclear-armed submarine, INS Arant, capable of carrying ballistic nuclear missiles with a longer range compared to patrol ships.
• 🔑 The yoga expose confirms India's new and more lethal nuclear posture.
• 😅 The source of the information is humorous, as it came from an online post rather than a traditional intelligence report.
• 🌍 Similar incidents have occurred where fitness apps and social media posts have inadvertently revealed military secrets.

Q & A

What is the significance of the 'missile stabilizer' mentioned in the script?

The missile stabilizer is a special structure on the deck of certain ships that helps in launching nuclear weapons. Its presence or absence can indicate whether a ship is equipped with nuclear-capable missile systems.

How did the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) deduce that India's sea-based nuclear weapons were removed from INS Subadra and INS Subarna?

The FAS used yoga pictures posted by the Indian Navy on social media, which showed the absence of the missile stabilizer on the deck of the ships, to deduce that the nuclear weapons had been removed.

What was the first clue that indicated the removal of nuclear weapons from INS Subna?

The first clue was a yoga picture posted by the Indian Navy on Yoga Day in 2022, where the absence of the missile stabilizer was noticeable.

What is the difference between nuclear weapons on patrol ships and those on submarines?

Nuclear weapons on patrol ships have very short ranges, requiring the ship to sail close to the enemy to strike. In contrast, submarines can carry ballistic nuclear missiles with much longer ranges, making them more effective.

How did the script mention the use of social media posts to uncover military strategies?

The script mentioned two examples: the use of a fitness app's heat map to identify secret US bases and the use of social media posts during a military exercise to identify soldiers, their locations, and equipment.

What was the Indian military's response to the potential security risk posed by social media posts?

In 2016, the Indian military issued an advisory asking citizens not to post information about deployments or share images that could reveal sensitive information about military assets.

What is the significance of the 'INS Arant' mentioned in the script?

The INS Arant is a nuclear-armed submarine of the Indian Navy, capable of carrying ballistic nuclear missiles, which can hit targets over a long distance, making it a more potent weapon system compared to patrol ships.

How many more submarines are expected to be launched by India towards the end of this decade?

Two more submarines are expected to be launched by India towards the end of this decade.

What is the broader implication of the 'yoga expose' mentioned in the script?

The 'yoga expose' confirms India's shift to a new nuclear posture that is more effective and lethal, while also highlighting the importance of being cautious about what is shared on social media due to its potential to reveal sensitive information.

What is the role of open-source data in identifying military strategies or locations?

Open-source data, such as social media posts or fitness app data, can be analyzed to uncover hidden military strategies, locations, or activities, without the need for any sophisticated equipment.

How does the script relate the concept of 'one tree for humanity' to the broader environmental issues?

The script introduces the 'one tree for humanity' project as an initiative to combat climate change by encouraging the planting of trees, symbolizing the collective effort needed to address environmental challenges.