SOURCE: AFI
The recent commissioning of the INS Arighaat, India’s fifth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), marks a significant milestone in the country’s strategic Indo-Pacific framework. According to former Indian naval officer Commodore C Uday Bhaskar, the development is particularly noteworthy given China’s “creeping assertiveness” along its border with India.
India joins an elite club of nations, including the United States, Russia, Britain, France, and China, that possess nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Bhaskar emphasized that neighboring nations will be keenly observing India’s progress, especially considering the country’s growing domestic defense manufacturing and hi-tech design capabilities. Pakistan, in particular, is likely to monitor India’s expanding naval power closely.
While the commissioning of the Arighaat is a significant achievement, Bhaskar acknowledged that China’s navy remains far superior, especially in submarine capabilities. He stressed the need for India to acquire longer-range submarine-launched missiles to keep pace with its regional rival.
China’s nuclear arsenal, both in terms of quantity and quality, is significantly larger and more potent than India’s. Bhaskar noted that the INS Arighaat and the INS Arihant will enhance India’s second-strike capability, but only to a limited extent. Given the threat posed by China’s nuclear arsenal, India will need to continue investing in its naval capabilities to ensure its strategic security.