Nuclear Submarines And Global Influence: INS Arighat, India’s Newly Launched Nuclear Guardian – Analysis

India recently launched its second nuclear-powered submarine, the INS Arighat, in Visakhapatnam. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other high-ranking defence and military officials attended the event. This comes at a time of heightened border tensions with China. Once the INS Arighaat joined the Indian Navy, it was placed under the Strategic Forces Command, responsible for managing India’s nuclear weapons.

By adding the second nuclear-powered submarine, India now has more ways to ensure that it can retaliate effectively in case of a nuclear attack from neighbouring countries with nuclear weapons. During the commissioning ceremony, Singh expressed the belief that the 6,000-ton INS Arighat would boost India’s nuclear capabilities, improve nuclear deterrence, contribute to regional stability and play a crucial role in the country’s security.

The defence minister emphasised the need for self-reliance in defence manufacturing due to global tensions. He stressed that quick progress in all sectors, particularly defence, was crucial in today’s geopolitical climate. He added that a strong military was just as important as economic growth.

N-Submarine & Nuclear Reactor

A nuclear submarine is powered by a nuclear reactor, which generates energy to run its steam-driven propulsion systems. This allows the submarine to operate for extended periods without needing to surface, or refuel, giving it almost unlimited range.

The nuclear reactor is typically located in a separate compartment, generally in the middle, or towards the rear, of the submarine. The reactor generates heat, which is used to produce steam. This steam can either directly drive turbines, or generate electricity to power the electric motors. In submarines that use electric motors, the reactor provides power to generators, which convert the reactor’s energy into electricity. This electricity is then sent to the motors, which turn the propeller shaft, propelling the submarine.

Only six countries in the world now operate nuclear submarines—the US, UK, Russia, France, China and India. A few other nations, such as Brazil, are also in the process of developing nuclear submarines.

Nuclear submarines equipped with nuclear warheads are known as Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN). If they do not carry nuclear warheads and are used for attack purposes, they are referred to as Ship Submersible Nuclear (SSN).

N-Arighat: Second-Strike Shield

The term, ‘Arighat’ comes from the Sanskrit term for ‘Destroyer of the Enemy’. The INS Arighat has the ability to launch K-4 ballistic missiles, which have a range of 3,500 km. The SSBN is capable of carrying up to four K-4 missiles, or up to 12 medium-range K-15 (Sagarika) missiles, which can be used for a second-strike retaliation.

India has been working for a long time to build a strong second-strike capability as part of its nuclear defence strategy. This is aimed at completing its nuclear triad—the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land, sea and air—and acting as a warning against its main competitor, China.

The growing competition between the US and China is gradually leading to a nuclear arms race, with both nations expanding, and upgrading, their nuclear weapons. These changes in the unstable multi-polar nuclear world, where multiple countries possess nuclear weapons, have pushed India to strengthen its second-strike abilities, ensuring it can respond to China in case of a nuclear conflict.

India’s started developing its second-strike nuclear capabilities with its Advanced Technology Vessels (ATV) project. This project was officially mentioned in the Indian Parliament by former Defence Minister George Fernandes.

Indian Navy’s ATV Programme

The ATV programme of the Indian Navy focusses on developing indigenous nuclear-powered submarines, such as the INS Arihant and the INS Arighat. These advanced submarines play a crucial role in enhancing India’s maritime security and strengthening its nuclear defence capabilities, as they are equipped with nuclear propulsion and ballistic missile systems.

Launched in 1984, the ATV programme aimed to design and build India’s own nuclear submarines, with technical support and guidance from the Soviet Union for design and testing. After 25 years of work, the project led to the creation of the Arihant class of nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs). India’s first nuclear submarine, the INS Arihant, was officially commissioned in 2016 and became fully operational by 2018. The Arihant can launch K-15 missiles, which have a maximum range of 750 kilometres.

The introduction of the second SSBN in the class, the INS Arighat, on August 29, 2024, marked another significant step forward in India’s strategic progress. India aims to close the gap with China and establish itself as a strong presence in the Indian Ocean, countering the threat posed by Chinese SSBNs.

While India’s second-strike capabilities are primarily focussed on China, this progress has also caused concern for its long-time rival, Pakistan. The technological gap between India and Pakistan is growing wider—especially when it comes to developing, and deploying, nuclear capabilities.

Pakistan has criticized India’s efforts at strengthening its strategic defences with the nuclear triad, calling India a destabilizing force in the region. Islamabad dramatizes that India’s development of its strategic weapons is worsening the ‘already tense security situation’ between the two countries and could trigger an ‘arms race’ in South Asia.

And More Worries for New Delhi

Pakistan’s increasing security concerns are also causing worries for New Delhi. Islamabad is seeking help from China to strengthen its own second-strike capabilities in response to India’s. China is assisting Pakistan in developing stealth submarines, known as the Hangor class, which can launch the Babur 3 cruise missile with a range of 450 kilometres. The submarine-launched version of the Babur 3 missile has created a difficult situation for India, as it can easily target India’s strategic assets.

Despite this, India’s strategic experts in New Delhi view China, and not Pakistan, as the primary threat to the country’s regional interests. India’s focus has clearly shifted from Pakistan to China—especially in its strategic efforts. This is evident in India’s pursuit of second-strike capabilities to maintain a balance of power between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Many Indian experts believe that China poses a greater threat to India’s overall security. China’s expanding influence in South Asia is also raising concerns about its intentions among New Delhi’s strategic community and policymakers.

While China on Expansion Spree

China is quickly expanding its nuclear weapons stockpile and enhancing its ability to deliver them. For instance, China’s Type 094 submarines are bigger than India’s Arihant-class submarines. They are powered by a nuclear reactor that can generate 150-175 MW of energy, while the Arihant and Arighat submarines are equipped with an 83 MW pressurized water reactor.

China’s navy currently has 60 submarines, including 12 nuclear-powered ones, with missiles capable of reaching over 13,000 kilometres. China is steadily expanding its submarine fleet, including SSBNs, and is expected to have around 80 submarines by 2035. It is highly likely that many of these submarines will be deployed in the Indian Ocean. China is also regularly conducting naval exercises with Pakistan as part of a strategy to surround India in South Asia.

China’s approach to deploying, and developing, SSBNs is pushing India to respond to this threat within a limited timeframe. As a result, India is increasing its submarine production. A third nuclear-powered submarine is expected to be added to its fleet within the next six months. Many Indian experts suggest that India should partner with other major powers that operate SSBNs, especially the US and France. This would help India improve, and extend, the operational range of its nuclear-powered submarines.

While India is partnering with French companies to develop conventional submarines under Project P-75, it is using a public-private partnership (PPP) model to build its own nuclear-powered submarines. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliance in defence production, as highlighted by the defence minister during the commissioning of the INS Arighat.

India’s focus on building its own capabilities was inspired by the Russian experience. India leased Akula-class nuclear submarines from Russia, but progress with Russian technology was slowed down due to strategic arms export controls. As a result, India began developing its own capabilities to build, and operate, nuclear submarines. These submarines are designed to offer a reliable defence against India’s adversaries.

Strategic Arms Export Controls

These strategic arms export controls were imposed by international agreements and organizations, such as the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and other non-proliferation treaties, to limit the transfer of advanced military technology, including nuclear submarines and weapons, to other countries. The strategic arms export controls were applied to India due to its status as a non-signatory of key non-proliferation treaties, such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

These controls aim to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and advanced military technology to countries that have not formally committed to limiting their nuclear arsenals or missile capabilities. India, while not part of these treaties, was seen as a potential proliferation risk, leading to restrictions on the transfer of sensitive technologies.

As India aims to be a key security provider in the Indian Ocean, it needs to develop important capabilities, including strategic weapons for defence. This will help safeguard the crucial sea routes in the region, which are essential for India’s economic growth and security. India faces several challenges in trying to keep pace with China’s rapidly expanding SSBN fleet.

These include budget limitations, a lack of coordination among key players in strategic planning and long technology transfer processes that lead to further delays. Despite these challenges, India remains committed to expanding its capabilities to maintain a strategic advantage over both Pakistan and China.