India’s fourth nuclear submarine launched with advanced arms

Context: India’s
fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), referred to as S4*,
was launched into water at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam last week,
official sources confirmed. This submarine is bigger and more capable than the
first, INS Arihant (S2). India currently has two SSBNs operational. INS Arihant
was quietly commissioned into service in August 2016. The second SSBN, INS
Arighaat (S3), was commissioned end-August. The third SSBN Aridhman (S4) is
currently undergoing sea trials and is expected to be commissioned into service
next year.

Key
points

·       Overview: India
quietly launched its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)
at the Ship Building Center (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, enhancing its nuclear
deterrence capabilities.

·       Nuclear-powered ballistic missile
submarine (SSBN): SSBNs are a potent and highly specialised military
asset. Operated by only the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom,
France, and India, these are armed with submarine-launched nuclear ballistic
missiles. These submarines are designed to provide a reliable second-strike
capability and underpin strategic nuclear deterrence via the principle of
mutual assured destruction. With unlimited range and endurance, the SSBN is
constrained only by food supplies, crew fatigue, and maintenance.

·       India’s 4^th SSNB: The fourth
SSBN is codenamed S4*. It boasts nearly 75 percent indigenous content and is
equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles, which have a range of 3,500 km and are
fired through vertical launching systems. While the first of its class, INS
Arihantcarries750 km range K-15 nuclear missiles, its successors, INS Arighaat
and INS Aridhaman, are all upgrades of the previous ones and carry only K-4
ballistic missiles. The launch of S4* follows the commissioning of INS Arighaat
in August 2024, and the INS Aridhaman is set for commissioning next year. Both
INS Arihant and INS Arighaat are already on deep sea patrols. Naming: Since
national security planners named India’s first leased nuclear attack submarine
INS Chakra as S1, INS Arihant was named S2, INS Arighaat S3, INS Aridhaman S4
and hence the newly launched one is the last of its class, S4* with the formal
name yet to be given.

Ø  K-4 ballistic missile: The
solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s
nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its
under-development sister vessels. It has a range of 3,500 km and it will be
able to bring almost all parts of Pakistan and several areas of China within
its reach.

·       Significance of Nuclear submarines
in India: Completing India’s Nuclear Triad: Nuclear-powered ballistic
missile submarines (SSBNs) such as INS Arihant provide survivable second strike
capability by securing massive retaliation against any nuclear coercion towards
India.

Lower Import Dependency: The
development and deployment of indigenous nuclear submarines reduce India's
reliance on imported defence equipment.

Strategic Autonomy: The presence of
nuclear-powered submarines in India's naval arsenal serves as a significant
deterrent against potential adversaries, contributing to the country's overall
strategic deterrence posture.