India launches 4th Nuclear powered SSBN
File picture of nuclear powered ballistic missile firing submarine INS Arighat
The fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, was launched on October 16, a day after Rajnath Singh inaugurated Very Low Frequency Naval Station.
In the midst of a diplomatic spat with Canada a lackey of USA but otherwise a non entity, India quietly launched its fourth nuclear powered ballistic missile (SSBN) submarine at Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam this week to increase its nuclear deterrence against other nuclear powers.
Ideally India should have 9 to 12 nuclear powered SSBNs armed with 12000 km + range Submarine launched Ballistic Missiles.While India’s second SSBN INS Arighaat was commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 29, 2024, the third SSBN INS Aridhaman will be commissioned next year.
On October 9, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared the Indian Navy’s plans for construction of two nuclear powered attack submarines to deter any adversaries in the Indo-Pacific.
Although the Navy is tight-lipped on nuclear deterrence, the fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, a formal name will be given on commissioning, was launched on October 16, a day after Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri inaugurated Very Low Frequency Naval Station in Damagundam forest area of Vikarabad district in Telangana for command, control and communications with strategic assets of the Indian Navy.
The next class of Indian SSBNs will be around 15000 ton or more than double the 6,000 ton displacement of Arihant class and will be carrying nuclear missiles upwards of the range of 5,000 kilometers and beyond.
The newly launched S4* SSBN has nearly 75% indigenous content and is equipped only with 4000km range K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles, which can be fired through vertical launching systems.
While the first of its class INS Arihant still carries 750 km range K-15 nuclear missiles, its successors are all upgrades of the previous ones and carry K-4 ballistic missiles with 4000km range.
With unlimited range and endurance, the SSBN is constrained only by food supplies, crew fatigue and maintenance. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighat are already on deep sea patrols A nuclear powered attack submarine or SSGN of Russian Akula class is set to join the force on lease in 2028.
The government has given priority to construction of six nuclear powered attack submarines and sanction for two has been accorded. Ideally Navy should have 12 of these submarines to start with.
The Navy has also stepped up conventional submarine deterrence with the sixth of the diesel attack Kalvari class submarine INS Vaghsheer to be commissioned in December this year.
The above does in no way imply tat focus of the present government has shifted to sea based submarine deterrence against powerful adversaries such as China.
Aircraft carriers are very much required and will be built once nuclear power plant gets finalized. It’s a fallacy that aircraft carriers are vulnerable to long range PLA missiles like Dong Feng-21 and Dong Feng-26 and could be sitting ducks in worst case scenarios.
Aircraft carriers have adequate means to fight back and as it is they are not stationary targets.
In the meantime, the government will give a go ahead to the construction of three more advanced diesel attack submarines at Mazagon Dockyards in collaboration with the French Naval Group.
With 10-11 PLA warships in the Indian Ocean every month since last year and carrier based long range patrols expected in 2025-26, strategic submarines are all set to play a major role in defending India and dominate the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
