In the context of a diplomatic disagreement with Canada, India discreetly inaugurated its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) at the Ship Building Center in Visakhapatnam this week, enhancing its nuclear deterrent capabilities against potential adversaries. The commissioning of India’s second SSBN, INS Arighaat, took place on August 29, 2024, under the auspices of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while the third SSBN, INS Aridhaman, is scheduled for commissioning next year. On October 9, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the Indian Navy’s initiative to construct two nuclear-powered attack submarines aimed at countering threats in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite the Modi administration’s reticence regarding nuclear deterrence, the fourth SSBN, designated S4*, was launched on October 16, following Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s inauguration of a Very Low Frequency Naval Station in the Damagundam forest area of Vikarabad district in Telangana, which is intended for command, control, and communication with the Indian Navy’s strategic assets.
The recently introduced S4* SSBN boasts an impressive 75% indigenous content and is armed exclusively with K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles, which have a range of 3,500 kilometers and can be launched via vertical systems. In contrast, the inaugural vessel of this class, INS Arihant, is equipped with K-15 nuclear missiles that have a range of 750 kilometers. The subsequent submarines in the series are enhancements of their predecessor, solely utilizing K-4 ballistic missiles. The SSBN’s operational capabilities are virtually limitless, constrained only by provisions, crew fatigue, and maintenance needs. Currently, both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat are engaged in deep-sea patrols, while a Russian Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine is anticipated to augment the fleet on a lease basis in 2028. Following the designation of India’s first leased nuclear attack submarine, INS Chakra, as S1, the naming convention continued with INS Arihant as S2, INS Arighaat as S3, and INS Aridhaman as S4, making the newly launched S4* the final vessel in this class, pending an official name.
Future Indian SSBN classes are projected to have a displacement of 6,000 tons, doubling that of the Arihant class, and will be capable of carrying nuclear missiles with ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometers.The emphasis placed by the Narendra Modi administration on sea-based submarine deterrence against formidable adversaries like China stems from the vulnerability of aircraft carriers to long-range PLA missiles, such as the Dong Feng-21 and Dong Feng-26, which could render them defenseless in critical situations. Consequently, the government has prioritized the development of nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines over the acquisition of a third aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy. Additionally, there has been an enhancement of conventional submarine capabilities, with the commissioning of the sixth diesel attack submarine, INS Vagsheer, scheduled for December of this year.The government is set to approve the construction of three additional advanced diesel attack submarines at Mazagon Dockyards, in partnership with the French Naval Group. Given the presence of 10 to 11 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warships in the Indian Ocean each month since the previous year, along with anticipated carrier-based long-range patrols projected for 2025-26, strategic submarines are poised to assume a critical role in safeguarding India’s interests and asserting dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).