India Strengthens Nuclear Deterrence with Launch of Fourth SSBN Submarine Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Featured & Cover India Strengthens Nuclear Deterrence with Launch of Fourth SSBN Submarine Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Amid escalating tensions with Canada, India has taken a significant step to bolster its nuclear deterrence by quietly launching its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) this week. The submarine, constructed at the Ship Building Center (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, further enhances India’s defense capabilities against its regional adversaries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

India’s submarine fleet is steadily growing, with the country commissioning its second SSBN, INS Arighaat, on August 29, 2024. This milestone was marked by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The third SSBN in the series, INS Aridhaman, is scheduled to be commissioned next year. As India moves ahead with its naval defense strategy, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has also approved plans for the Indian Navy to construct two additional nuclear-powered attack submarines, further strengthening its deterrence capabilities in the strategically significant Indo-Pacific region.

Although the Indian government, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has maintained a tight-lipped approach regarding the country’s nuclear deterrence strategies, the launch of the fourth SSBN, code-named S4*, took place on October 16, 2024. This came a day after the inauguration of a Very Low Frequency Naval Station by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the Damagundam forest area of Telangana’s Vikarabad district. The station is critical for communication, command, and control of the Indian Navy’s strategic assets, reflecting India’s continuing focus on enhancing its maritime defense infrastructure.

The newly launched S4* submarine features about 75% indigenous content, a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The SSBN is equipped with the K-4 ballistic missile system, which has a range of 3,500 kilometers. These missiles are fired using vertical launch systems, adding a significant strategic advantage. Earlier SSBN models, such as the INS Arihant, carried the shorter-range K-15 nuclear missiles, which had a range of only 750 kilometers. The successors to the Arihant, however, represent significant upgrades in terms of missile capacity and overall capabilities, ensuring they carry only K-4 ballistic missiles.

The SSBN’s operational endurance is virtually unlimited due to its nuclear power, with constraints only imposed by food supplies, crew fatigue, and maintenance. Currently, both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat are on deep-sea patrols, enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. In a further boost to the Indian Navy’s nuclear assets, a Russian Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine is expected to join the fleet in 2028, on lease from Russia.

India’s strategic planners have adhered to a specific naming convention for its SSBN fleet. The first leased nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, was designated S1. This led to the first indigenous SSBN, INS Arihant, being named S2, followed by INS Arighaat as S3, and INS Aridhaman as S4. The newly launched SSBN, S4*, marks the final vessel in the current class of submarines, though a formal name has yet to be assigned. Future SSBNs from India are anticipated to be even more advanced, with double the displacement of the Arihant class at 6,000 tons and capable of carrying nuclear missiles with ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometers.

The Modi government’s emphasis on enhancing sea-based deterrence stems from the belief that submarine-based assets are crucial in countering potential threats from China and other adversaries. One of the primary concerns driving this focus is the vulnerability of aircraft carriers to long-range missiles such as China’s Dong Feng-21 and Dong Feng-26, which are capable of targeting large, visible assets like aircraft carriers. According to defense analysts, in worst-case scenarios, aircraft carriers could become easy targets for these long-range missiles. Consequently, the government has prioritized the construction of nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines over a third aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy.

To supplement its nuclear submarine fleet, India has also stepped up its conventional submarine capabilities. By December 2024, India is expected to commission the sixth diesel-powered attack submarine of the Kalvari class, INS Vagsheer. This addition will further bolster the Navy’s conventional defense capabilities, complementing the strategic role played by its nuclear-powered vessels.

Looking ahead, India is set to approve the construction of three more advanced diesel attack submarines at Mazagon Dockyards, in collaboration with the French Naval Group. These submarines will add further depth to India’s conventional submarine fleet, ensuring the Navy is well-prepared for potential conflicts in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In recent years, China’s presence in the IOR has grown, with approximately 10 to 11 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warships operating in the region each month since 2023. Moreover, China’s carrier-based long-range patrols are expected to begin by 2025-2026, underscoring the need for India to strengthen its maritime defense posture.

With China’s increased naval activity, India’s focus on submarines — both nuclear and conventional — positions it to maintain a strong defensive and offensive capability in the region. By prioritizing sea-based deterrence, particularly with its submarine fleet, India aims to safeguard its maritime interests and ensure dominance in the IOR. The role of strategic submarines in India’s naval defense strategy is set to become even more critical as the country continues to modernize and expand its fleet.

India’s decision to launch its fourth SSBN during a time of heightened diplomatic tensions with Canada underscores the country’s commitment to reinforcing its national security and nuclear deterrence capabilities. With the commissioning of multiple SSBNs and the construction of additional nuclear attack submarines, India is positioning itself as a formidable maritime power, ready to counter threats in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The addition of the S4* submarine to its fleet marks a significant milestone in this journey, highlighting the country’s growing self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing and its strategic focus on submarines over traditional surface fleets like aircraft carriers.

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