In a rapidly intensifying geopolitical environment in the Indian Ocean, deterrence is seen as vital in ensuring the enduring security of maritime interests
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Rapid transformations are underway in India’s security preparedness. The commissioning of the INS Arighaat, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), into the Indian Navy on August 29 has further bolstered India’s national security preparedness. Importantly, INS Arighaat joins INS Arihant, fully operational since 2018, as India’s second SSBN. This has further enhanced India’s nuclear triad, which alludes to a nation’s ability to launch strategic nuclear delivery systems from land, air, and sea. The commissioning of the INS Arighaat is poised to add to India’s evolving deterrence capabilities against potential adversaries at sea. In light of the rapidly intensifying security dynamics in the Indian Ocean and China’s steady inroads into the region, New Delhi has sought to prioritise deterrence capabilities to secure its national interests.
The commissioning of the INS Arighaat is poised to add to India’s evolving deterrence capabilities against potential adversaries at sea.
The INS Arighaat marks India’s continuing attempts to design and manufacture advanced military technologies. During the commissioning of the nuclear submarine, India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, emphasised India’s ambition to emerge as a self-reliant and confident power with economic and military capabilities. As India grows both economically and militarily, he mentioned the importance of self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The commissioning of the Arighaat comes at a time when global geopolitics is in a state of turmoil, with enduring wars in Europe and West Asia significantly impacting the supply capabilities of important defence suppliers. This poses risks for countries that remain reliant on traditional defence equipment suppliers for their security needs. Secondly, with India’s growing economic capabilities, and the emerging complexities in its land and maritime peripheries, it is vital that New Delhi directs its attention to building indigenous systems, diversifying from reliance on external players to secure its core interests.
The INS Arighaat, built by the Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Vishakhapatnam, has four launch tubes in its hump, with the capacity to carry up to four K-4 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) with a range of up to 3500 kilometres, or twelve K-15 SLBMs, with a range of 750 kilometres. This nuclear submarine is an upgrade over its predecessor, INS Arihant, though both submarines are powered by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor and have a similar weapon package. Arighaat, which has more indigenous systems than the Arihant, is the result of remarkable synergy among the Indian Navy, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), and the industry. Its induction in service is an important contribution to India’s defence asset stock from the perspective of its bourgeoning domestic capabilities. Going forward, India’s counter-nuclear capabilities are likely to be further boosted with the commissioning of two more SSBNs, taking the total count of ballistic missile-capable submarines to four. The next such submarine currently undergoing trials is expected to be commissioned as INS Aridhaman early next year.
With India’s growing economic capabilities, and the emerging complexities in its land and maritime peripheries, it is vital that New Delhi directs its attention to building indigenous systems, diversifying from reliance on external players to secure its core interests.
Given India’s ‘no-first use’ nuclear policy, a key imperative of India’s nuclear capabilities has been to boost deterrence. In a rapidly intensifying geopolitical environment in the Indian Ocean, deterrence is seen as vital in ensuring the enduring security of maritime interests. On the maritime front, India’s security calculus has been increasingly concerned by China’s expanding naval footprint into the Indian Ocean. Beijing has sought to enhance its presence in the region by expanding its political influence in Indian Ocean littoral countries, which further continues to facilitate its growing naval footprint. This is a critical development for India because increasingly, in addition to China’s growing political influence in the Indian Ocean, Beijing has now sought to enhance its military presence in the region. In addition, Pakistan’s naval presence in the Indian Ocean remains a core concern for India. In such a context, the Indian Ocean region poses the risk of becoming volatile for India’s maritime interests and sovereignty. This poses a multi-front threat to Indian interests. The commissioning of another SSBN bolsters efforts to forestall adversarial moves by China and Pakistan.
The expansion of India’s deterrence capabilities bears a deeper look. The very nature of proliferating nuclearisation rests on the notion of deterrence-enhancement. The mere posturing of nuclear capabilities is seen as key in dissuading potential adversaries from posing threats. Thus, India’s SSBNs are seen as key in deterring China from undertaking advances that might adversely affect India’s national security interests. However, India’s capabilities need further enhancement to match China. Beijing currently possesses six Jin-class Submarine-Launched Ballistic Nuclear Submarines (SSBN), with missiles capable of a range of 10, 000 kilometres.
The Indian Ocean region poses the risk of becoming volatile for India’s maritime interests and sovereignty.
Overall, the commissioning of INS Arighaat highlights the importance of deterrence in India’s evolving security outlook. India’s security environment remains dynamic, with perceived threats from China. While much of India’s security thinking has long been dominated by a territorial understanding of security, with New Delhi placing greater emphasis on securing land borders, increasingly, the maritime domain has emerged as a critical site of contestation with China.
The threat perception emanating from China’s expanding naval footprint into the Indian Ocean is exacerbated by the possibility of a multi-front conflict, both on land as well as at sea. In this context, enhancing deterrence capabilities remains essential. With the commissioning of INS Arighaat and plans to develop more such assets armed with torpedoes, anti-ship, and land-attack missiles, a vital continuity appears to be underway in India’s security thinking. Importantly, enhancing nuclear deterrence is an evolving process that needs to be built in tandem with other capabilities to counter strategic threats. Given China and Pakistan’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean, the induction of INS Arighaat —with two more such submarines in the pipeline —India’s deterrence preparedness seems to be on the right track.
Sayantan Haldar is a Research Assistant with the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation
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Sayantan Haldar is a Research Assistant at ORF’s Strategic Studies Programme. At ORF, Sayantan’s research focuses on Maritime Studies. He is interested in questions of ...
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