India’s powers in the sea have further increased. India has taken important steps towards strengthening its nuclear deterrence capability in the sea to keep its enemies away.
The country’s fourth nuclear powered ballistic missile (SSBN) submarine was launched at Visakhapatnam Ship Building Center (SBC) this week.
India’s second SSBN INS Arighat was commissioned by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on August 29, 2024, while the third SSBN INS Aridhaman will be commissioned next year.
Earlier on October 9, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the construction of two nuclear powered submarines to keep any enemy away in the Indo-Pacific region.
This is an important part of the planning of the Indian Navy. The fourth SSBN is code named S4* and was launched on 16 October.
A day before this, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated the Low Frequency Naval Station for command, control and communication of strategic assets of the Indian Navy in Damagundam area of Vikarabad district of Telangana.
The newly launched S4* SSBN is about 75% indigenous and is armed with 3,500 km range K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles that can be fired through a vertical launching system.
INS Arihant, the first of this category, can be equipped with K-15 nuclear missiles with a range of 750 km. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighat are already keeping an eye on India’s enemies in the sea.
To accompany them, a nuclear powered submarine of the Russian Akula class is going to join the Indian Navy on lease in 2028.
The first nuclear attack submarine leased by India was named INS Chakra as S1. INS Arihant was named S2, INS Arighat was named S3, INS Aridhaman was named S4. The newly launched submarine is the last of its class to be named S4* although the formal name has not been announced yet.
The government has given priority to nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines over a third aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy.
The government has also worked towards conventional submarine deterrence with the sixth diesel attack Kalvari class submarine INS Wagshir being commissioned in December this year.
Meanwhile, the government will go ahead with the construction of three more advanced diesel attack submarines at Mazagon Dockyard with the help of the French Navy.
With 10-11 PLA warships in the Indian Ocean every month since last year and long-range patrolling expected in 2025-26, strategic submarines are ready to play a vital role in India’s defense and in the Indian Ocean region.
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