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Recently, INS Arighat, Indian Navy’s second Nuclear Submarine, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. The induction of INS Arighaat aims to further strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance nuclear deterrence, help in establishing strategic balance and peace in the region, and play a decisive role in the security of the country.
In this article, we will focus on INS Arighaat and India’s nuclear triad. We will look into the significance of INS Arighaat and India’s nuclear triad. We will also look at how the India’s nuclear triad enhance India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. We will also look into the challenges in further development of India’s deterrence capabilities, and the way forward to address these challenges.
What is INS Arighat? What are the features of INS Arighat?
| About | INS Arighat is India’s second indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). It is the successor of India’s first nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant. However, it is significantly more advanced than its predecessor, INS Arihant, due to the indigenous technological advancements incorporated into it. |
| Built By | The submarine was constructed at the Indian Navy’s Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam. |
| Features | 1. Nuclear Powered- Both the INS Arihant and the INS Arighat are powered by 83 MW pressurised light-water nuclear reactors. This enables them to remain submerged for longer durations compared to conventional diesel-electric submarines, which need to surface regularly to charge their batteries. 2. Nuclear Tipped Missiles- Like its predecessor, the INS Arighat has four launch tubes in its hump. It can carry up to 12 K-15 Sagarika submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), each with a range of 750 kilometres (km), or four K-4 SLBMs with a range of 3,500 km. 3. Speed and size- The INS Arighat, with a displacement of around 6,000 tonnes, is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 12-15 knots (22-28 km/h) on the surface and up to 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged. 4. Advanced Stealth Technology- The submarine features advanced stealth technology to reduce its detectability by enemy sonar systems. Its design incorporates lessons learned from INS Arihant, improving its operational effectiveness and survivability. |
What is Nuclear Triad? What is Nuclear Deterrence and the history of development of Nuclear Deterrence?
Nuclear triad- Nuclear triad refers to a country’s ability to launch nuclear missiles from platforms in the air, land, and at sea.
India’s nuclear triad- India is part of a select group of countries with nuclear triad capabilities. These countries include the United States, Russia, China, and France.
| Sea Based Deterrence | |
| INS Arihant | India’s first indigenous Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN). The induction of INS Arihant into the Navy in 2016 provided India with maritime strike capability for the first time. INS Arihant conducted its first deterrence patrol in 2018, thus establishing India’s nuclear triad. |
| INS Arighat | INS Arighat is India’s second indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). It is the successor of India’s first nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant. |
| S-4 | It will be India’s third indigenous nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) after INS Arihant and Arighat. The S-4 submarine will be bigger than the INS Arihant and Arighat, with more space for nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. |
| Land Based Deterrence | |
| Agni Series | The Agni series of ballistic missiles are among India’s most prominent strategic weapons. The series includes Agni-I (700-1,250 km range), Agni-II (2,000-3,000 km range), Agni-III (3,000-5,000 km range), Agni-IV (4,000 km range), and Agni-V (5,000 range). Agni-V, intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles, capable of reaching targets as far as Europe and China. |
| Prithvi Series | Developed by DRDO, the Prithvi series comprises short-range ballistic missiles designed for tactical use. These missiles, including Prithvi I (150 km range) and Prithvi II (250-350 km range), can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, providing India with a flexible deterrence option against regional threats. |
| Shaurya | Shaurya is a land-based hypersonic missile developed by India, designed to deliver nuclear payloads with precision at hypersonic speeds. Its range is around 700-1,000 km, enhancing India’s deterrence capabilities by introducing a fast and maneuverable delivery system. |
| Air Based Deterrence | |
| Rafale aircraft | The induction of the Rafale aircraft has provided the Indian Air Force with a sophisticated aircraft with nuclear-warhead-carrying capability. |
Nuclear Triad aids in bolstering Nuclear Deterrence capabilities
Nuclear Deterrence- Nuclear deterrence is a strategy employed by states possessing nuclear weapons to prevent adversaries from initiating a nuclear attack by convincing them that the costs and consequences of such an attack would outweigh any potential benefits.
Principle Behind Nuclear Deterrence- Nuclear Deterrence operates on the principle of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), where both sides possess sufficient nuclear capabilities to inflict unacceptable damage on each other, thereby deterring any hostile actions.
India’s Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Deterrence– Maintenance of credible nuclear deterrence is one of the foremost priorities of India’s Nuclear Policy.
a. Credible Minimum Deterrence- India would maintain a sufficient number of nuclear weapons to deter a nuclear attack, but it would not seek to match other countries’ arsenals in size.
b. Retaliation to a Nuclear Attack- If India is subject to a nuclear attack, it would retaliate, causing massive damage to the aggressor.
Development of India’s Nuclear Deterrence
| 1947 | Post Independence, India pursued development of nuclear weapons capability, particularly in light of regional tensions and the emergence of nuclear-armed neighbours, namely China and Pakistan. |
| 1974 | India conducted its first nuclear test, codenamed ‘Smiling Buddha‘. This test demonstrated India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. |
| 1974-1998 | During this phase, India maintained nuclear ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying the possession of nuclear weapons. This ambiguity served as a form of deterrence, maintaining uncertainty about India’s nuclear status. |
| 1998 | The Pokhran Tests of 1998, which comprised of five nuclear detonations, both fission and fusion, marked India’s evolution as a nuclear weapons state. |
| After 1998 Tests | Following the 1998 tests, India outlined its Nuclear Doctrine. The key elements of India’s nuclear doctrine include a No First Use (NFU) policy, minimum credible deterrence, and retaliation only in the event of a nuclear attack. India has worked to develop Nuclear Triad for enhancing India’s Nuclear Deterrence. India also established Strategic Forces Command (SFC) to oversee the management, deployment, and operational control of India’s nuclear forces. |
What is the Significance of INS Arighat?
1. Boost to India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities- Induction of INS Arighat, the second nuclear-powered submarine of the Arihant class, significantly boosts India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.
2. Enhances regional security- It strengthens the nuclear triad, the ability to launch missiles from land, air, and maritime platforms. Its deployment enhances regional security and contributes to India’s strategic influence.
3. Survivability and execution- These submarines have the ability to survive a surprise attack and execute retaliatory strikes, given India’s “no-first use” nuclear policy,
4. More advanced- The Arighaat is significantly more technologically advanced than the Arihant, with the indigenous systems and equipment which were conceptualised, designed, manufactured and integrated by Indian scientists, industry, and naval personnel.
What are the Challenges with India’s Nuclear Deterrence?
Sea Based Deterrence Challenges
1. India’s sea based deterrence smaller than foreign counterparts- The United States (US), Russia, United Kingdom (UK), France, and China possess larger nuclear submarines with longer-range missiles. For ex- China has 12 nuclear submarines, of which six are nuclear-powered attack submarines. The United States has 14 Ohio-class SSBNs and 53 fast-attack submarines.
2. Large percentage of submarine fleet under maintenance- Around 30 per cent of the fleet is under refit (repair and renovation), which has brought down the strength of operational submarines.
Other Deterrence Challenges
1. Inadequate nuclear testing facilities- The lack of sufficient testing undermines the extent to which the re-entry vehicles could be designed to carry the warheads.
2. Opacity surrounding the warhead numbers- There is opacity around the number of warheads, Agni-V, can carry due to its classified nature. However, specialists suspect that it at present, it can carry at most only three warheads.
3. Low yield of the nuclear Warheads- There are concerns that the yield of the nuclear warheads is limited due to the small number of atomic tests conducted by India.
4. Problems with Sea based nuclear deterrence- There are problems of deep-sea communications with SSBN because the very low-frequency systems in use on the submarine are prone to disruption at great depths.
5. Swift Expansion of Chinese Nuclear Arsenals- Beijing has been making brisk advancements with its missile and missile defence programmes.
What Should be the Way Forward?
1. Early testing of long-range Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)- India must add punch to its nuclear arsenal by testing its long-range Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) which can be launched by its nuclear submarines.
2. Investment in Missile Defence Systems- To counter the growing threat from China’s modernizing nuclear arsenal, India should invest in developing and deploying advanced missile defence systems, like expediting development of Agni VI.
3. Strengthening of Conventional Capabilities- While maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, India should also focus on strengthening its conventional military capabilities. This can help deter conventional conflicts that may escalate to the nuclear level.
4. Cooperation with Allies- India should continue to cooperate with its allies and partners, such as the United States, to deter potential aggressors. This could involve sharing intelligence, conducting joint military exercises, and coordinating on defence strategies.
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