India needs 4 Nuclear powered Ballistic missile Submarines SSBN #indiannavy #submarine

Importance of SSBN for National Security

India is surrounded by heavily Nuclear Armed nations driven by authoritarian government. China and Pakistan have extensive military cooperation at various level including weapons of mass destruction which further complicates the national security of India. This forces India towards having a credible nuclear deterrence where the Nuclear powered Ballistic missile submarines, SSBNs gives India a robust nuclear deterrence capability. Unlike, the ground based ballistic missile system, the SSBNs are least vulnerable, difficult to locate and most survivable deterrence platform. SSBNs will enable Indian Navy to maintain continuous at-sea deterrence or CASD posture.

India’s ATV or Advanced Technology Vessel project is considered as a most secretive and costly defense project till date. Under this India has planned to build 4 Nuclear ballistic missile capable submarine called SSBNs estimated at 90,000 crore rupees. Each of these submarines costs upwards of 4000 crore rupees. These SSBNs are Arihant(S2), Arighat(S3), S4 and S4*. The construction, commissioning, testing and status of the SSBNs are directly under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) or the Strategic Nuclear Command (SNC), which is under the control of the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office). 

INS Arihant(S2): 1st SSBN of India

INS Arihant is India’s first indigenous nuclear powered ballistic missile capable submarine in service. Its design is based on the Akula-1 class submarines of Russia. The submarine has displacement of 6,000 tonnes powered by an 83 MW pressurised water reactor. It can achieve a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) when surfaced and 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.

India has developed a range of ‘K’ family SLBMs, long-range missiles that can be launched from submarines. The submarines have four launch tubes where it can carry up to twelve K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 km or four K-4 missiles with a range of 3,500 km.

On 14th October 2022, The Ministry of Defence announced the successfully launched a nuclear capable Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) in the Bay of Bengal with “very high accuracy” from INS Arihant.

The submarine’s K-15 missiles can reach most of Pakistan and it’s K-4 can target all of Pakistan. If deployed in Bay of Bengal, K-4 can reach upto Beijing.

Arighat(S3): 2nd SSBN of Arihant Class

Arighat is the 2nd & upgraded Nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine built under ATV (Advance Technology Vessel) program. The submarine was launched quietly in 2017 and is nearing the completion of its sea trial. It is expected to expected to enter service with the Strategic Forces Command in 2023. The submarine has displacement and weapons carrying capability similar to INS Arihant.

S4 and S4*: Bigger SSBN

The upgraded S4 & S4* class submarines will have a higher displacement of 7000 tonnes. The S4 – and subsequent boats – are labelled as ‘Arihant-stretch’ variants having 8 launch tubes. It can carry 24 X K15 SLBM or 8 K-4 SLBM – almost double in terms of fire power when compared with Arihant.

The third of the Arihant-class SSBN (Sub Surface Ballistic Nuclear) submarine code-named S4, was quietly launched some time in the last week of November 2021 in Visakhapatnam. The soft launch of S4 was first reported by UK-based Janes Defence Weekly

Navy needs 4 SSBN for CASD posture

In order to maintain to maintain continuous at-sea deterrence or CASD posture & to have credible & reliable second strike capability, Indian Navy needs minimum 4 SSBN. This will ensure the permanent deployment of SSBN on eastern and western seaboard & uninterrupted deterrence patrol while one or two SSBNs are undergoing maintenance.

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[IndianDefenseAnalysis]

Correction: At 3:21 it’s Arighat not Arihant

[sheilyaoinam]

We need much more submarines of SSBN class which are capable of firing K-5, K-6 and other missiles which can be manufactured in a war footing mode.

[advaityachandhoke]

Our target by early 2030's should be to have 7-8 SSBNs in service.

I feel we should construct 4 S5 Class SSBN (post induction of S4 & S4*).

If in future we plan to convert Arihant & Arighat class SSBN into SSGN (since they're smaller in size), we will atleast have a cover up in the form of 4 S5 + 2 SSGN along with a fleet of 15 SSKs & 4-6 SSN, it would greatly improve our attack capabilities as well as increase our overall reach beyond the Indian Ocean Region as well. It will act as a deterrence to Chinese PLAN.

[souvikdey]

India need atlest 10SSBN with displacement of 16000 to 20000 ton like Ohio class also need another 10 SSN to enhance attack capability

[datoolz]

US Navy has 14 SSBNs. In the 2050s target frame, that is a much better number to target. Nuclear submarines are impossible to find in the ocean, and can be protected by the Navy. It is very difficult for any major power to attack Bharati subs in Indian Ocean, because of the local naval superiority. Even US Navy can't do it. Since subs, and only subs are invulnerable to a pre emptive nuclear strike it offers insurance against nuclear war. Even the most reckless will think twice if they are forced to accept that even if they go first, Bharat will go second and wipe their country off the face of the map.Not merely Pakistan and Zhongguo, the USA is the biggest and most dangerous adversary here.

[anbusethupathy]

Both ssbn and SSN should be our first priority and should be procured in decent numbers

[madpriyajan]

S5 project in progress to address this requirement. It will be of 12000 tons class.
SSN project is in anvil too.

[vasudhaathavale]

Very professional and to the point information! Very good

[BB-fbuh]

We should also look to develop S5 class which can have 12-16 VLS and can launch 5000 km ballistic missiles....

[jackmist]

Also we dont know but K4 K5 K6 may be MIRV and MARVs, meaning they can target multiple places hundreds of kilometer apart. These is more than enough for India. The only concern after S4 and S4*, is the number of subs for India.

[SQBghost]

Does we have slcm submarines and missiles?

[Rohit-Jat]

Arihant (S2)and Arighat (S3) SSBN are not true SSBN. They are just technology demonstrator.Even S4 and S4* are also not much capable SSBN. India needs larger SSBN (S5) class SSBN

[ashokkandimalla]

Excellent summary. One should listen this video to get this get a overview of our SSBN program. I am of the opinion, (personal of course) that we should spend those15, 000 crores meant for TEDBF on more SSNs and SSBNs.

[Sarj]

We’ll have total of 6 including arihant

[babuvishwass]

When S5 SSBN will be ready for Production then that time S2 and S3 SSBN will be on edge of Retirement. We are very very slow in Submarine Construction 😨😨