SOURCE: AFI
Nestled into a rocky cliff along India’s eastern coastline, INS Varsha emerges as a cornerstone of the nation’s naval strategy—a $3.7 billion underground nuclear submarine base designed to withstand a nuclear attack. Located near Rambilli in Andhra Pradesh, approximately 70 km from the Visakhapatnam naval base, this secretive facility features underwater tunnels that allow submarines to dock discreetly, shielded from satellite intelligence and prying eyes. Spanning 20 square kilometers, INS Varsha is engineered to house up to 12 nuclear submarines, forming the backbone of India’s expanding undersea fleet and reinforcing its nuclear deterrence triad.
India’s nuclear triad—comprising land-based missiles, air-delivered weapons, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles—reached operational status in 2018 with the commissioning of INS Arihant, the country’s first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). INS Varsha will enhance this capability by providing a secure, survivable hub for India’s growing fleet, which includes five Arihant-class SSBNs either operational or under construction, with plans for advanced S5-class SSBNs and Project 77 nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) by 2035. Currently, India operates two SSBNs—INS Arihant and INS Arighaat—while China boasts 12 nuclear submarines, including six SSBNs and six SSNs. Yet, experts argue this isn’t merely a numbers game but one of strategic reach and positioning.
The Bay of Bengal, the world’s largest coastal body of water, is fast becoming a geopolitical hotspot as India and China vie for dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Home to vast natural resources—supplying 7% of the global fish catch and harboring significant oil and gas reserves—the bay also hosts the Malacca Strait, a critical chokepoint through which 30% of global trade and 80% of China’s energy imports flow. This vulnerability drives China’s naval modernization, with a fleet of over 370 warships, including cutting-edge Type 055 destroyers, Type 094 nuclear submarines, and aircraft carriers, outnumbering the U.S. Navy by nearly 78 vessels.
In response, India is shifting from a continental focus to a maritime strategy of sea denial, with INS Varsha as its linchpin. Unlike China’s blue-water ambitions, which rely on distant logistical hubs like Djibouti and Myanmar’s Kyaukpyu port, India benefits from operating close to home. INS Varsha’s sheltered location, carved into the Bay of Bengal’s mountainous rim, offers a second-strike capability—a decisive advantage in high-stakes standoffs where the first move often determines victory. The base’s proximity to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), just 16 km away in Achutapuram, further enhances its operational synergy, providing direct access to nuclear expertise and resources.
India’s submarine fleet has historically leaned on diesel-electric platforms like the Sindhughosh-class, but the Arihant-class marks a leap forward. INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, and INS Arighaat, inducted in August 2024, are equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles boasting a 3,500 km range—capable of striking targets deep in China from the northern Bay of Bengal. The upcoming S5-class SSBNs, with a 12,000-ton displacement and 6,000 km-range K-5/K-6 missiles, will further extend India’s reach. Meanwhile, six Project 77 SSNs, approved in October 2024, will add stealth and conventional strike power by 2036-38.
Despite setbacks—like the 2017 flooding of INS Arihant’s propulsion system due to human error—India’s naval ambitions are on track. INS Varsha, slated for completion in 2026, will feature underground pens, repair facilities, and a command center, accommodating this expanding fleet. With over a dozen new submarines commissioned or planned in the past decade, including six Kalvari-class diesel-electric boats, India is steadily closing the gap with China’s undersea dominance.
INS Varsha, slated for completion in 2026, will feature underground pens, repair facilities, and a command center, accommodating this expanding fleet. With over a dozen new submarines commissioned or planned in the past decade, including six Kalvari-class diesel-electric boats, India is steadily closing the gap with China’s undersea dominance.
India’s maritime strategy extends beyond INS Varsha. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 1,200 km southeast of the mainland, serve as a forward operating base, monitoring the Malacca Strait just 500-600 km away. With a 663,000 square kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and new infrastructure like the INS Kohassa runway, these islands bolster India’s surveillance and power projection. Meanwhile, the “Act East” policy has seen India export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines and pursue similar deals with Vietnam, countering China’s presence in the South China Sea.
At $3.7 billion, INS Varsha represents a massive investment in India’s naval posture, driven by mounting tensions with China. While India’s 130-warship navy pales against China’s 370, its strategic positioning and focus on survivability offer a qualitative edge. The base’s nuclear-attack-resistant design ensures India’s SSBNs remain operational even under extreme scenarios, safeguarding the sea-based leg of its nuclear triad.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.