Deterrence Through Submarine Dominance
Context:
Recent remarks by the Indian Defence Minister have sparked widespread speculation regarding the quiet commissioning of INS Aridhaman, the third submarine in the Indian Navy's nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) programme.
Evolution of the SSBN Programme:
The Arihant Class:
Launched in 2009, the Indian Navy commissioned its first SSBN, INS Arihant, in 2016.
This was followed by the second submarine in the series, INS Arighat, in 2024.
With INS Aridhaman marking the third, a fourth vessel of the Arihant class is likely to be commissioned next year, guiding India's SSBN programme going forward.
Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSN):
Alongside ballistic missile submarines, New Delhi is taking rapid strides by seeking to commission India's first fully indigenously designed nuclear attack submarine (SSN) by 2036, with the second in the programme targeted for 2038.
Capabilities of INS Aridhaman:
Enhanced Firing Power:
INS Aridhaman marks a gradual but significant upgrade over its predecessors.
It is a larger 7000-tonne vessel designed for a much greater payload delivery.
Missile Capacity:
It can reportedly carry up to 24 K-15 Sagarika missiles, and up to eight nuclear-tipped K-4 or K-5 missiles.
In stark contrast, the previous submarines in this series hold the capacity for carrying only 12 K-15 Sagarika missiles.
The China Factor:
As the roster of the Indian Navy's assets is continually compared with China's, keeping pace with Beijing is critical.
A primary challenge will be efficiently allocating resources to balance fleet upgrades with the induction of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems, in the design and production of these vessels.