SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
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India’s decision to prioritize the development of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) over acquiring additional aircraft carriers represents a significant shift in naval strategy, according to Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan, Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). This response follows reports that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has halted plans for procuring a third aircraft carrier in favor of accelerating the indigenous SSN program.
Dr. Buchanan stated, “India’s decision to throw everything at the SSN program signals a major doctrinal shift.” The move reflects a reassessment of India’s strategic priorities, emphasizing undersea warfare capabilities as a means to counter emerging regional threats and enhance naval deterrence.
The decision to prioritize SSNs over a new aircraft carrier aligns with global maritime trends. Nuclear-powered attack submarines offer extended endurance, high speeds, and the ability to operate undetected for long durations, making them potent tools for power projection and sea denial. In contrast, aircraft carriers, while formidable assets, require extensive logistical support and are increasingly vulnerable to modern anti-ship missile threats.
For India, enhancing SSN capabilities is critical in the Indo-Pacific region, where China’s growing naval presence, particularly its expanding submarine fleet, poses strategic challenges. With China already operating a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, including the Shang-class SSNs and Jin-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), India’s focus on SSNs is seen as an effort to maintain a credible undersea deterrence and secure its maritime interests.
The Indian Navy has long debated the balance between carrier-based power projection and an advanced submarine fleet. While aircraft carriers provide force projection and air dominance capabilities, SSNs offer stealth, unrestricted range, and the ability to strike key enemy assets undetected. The decision to focus on SSNs suggests a doctrinal shift towards a more asymmetric maritime warfare approach.
India currently operates a single aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, while its indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned in 2022. Plans for a third carrier, tentatively named INS Vishal, appear to be on hold as the MoD redirects resources towards the SSN program. The move also aligns with India’s broader push for indigenous defense manufacturing, as the SSN project involves extensive collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and major domestic shipbuilding firms.
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