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21 October 2016

INS Arihant finally provides India a second launch capability

By Brig Arun Bajpai
20 Oct , 2016

Till now we had Prithvi, Agni -1, Agni-2 and Agni -3 nuclear capable missiles as our land delivery means while the likes of SU 30 MKI and Mirage 2000 fighter aircrafts catered for our air delivery systems. Location of these land missile silos as also the air bases operating these fighter aircrafts, both are vulnerable to enemy nuclear strikes since their locations can be found out by the enemy. Not so when an INS Arihant type SSBN nuclear powered submarine is around, hiding deep down in Arabian Sea with its nuclear capable missile ready to be launched at moment’s notice. This provides India a second launch capability which is robust, infallible and potentially insuperable.

India is the first country in the world that has taken a huge technological leap and has straight away constructed an SSBN.

Was it just a coincidence that Indian indigenous nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant, with its 750 km range nuclear capable Sagarika missiles, and 3500 km range Agni -3 nuclear capable missiles got quietly commissioned in Navy for active service in Aug 2016 without any fanfare, and India launched its surgical strike on 29 Sep despite Pakistan rattling its nuclear arsenal?

Actually Pakistan by rattling its nuclear arsenal has scored a self goal. Till date this used to scare India into not taking any retaliatory action despite having capability, that myth now has been broken once for all. There is no doubt that INS Arihant has a big role to play in India’s this bold move.

Yes before commissioning of INS Arihant India did have INS Chakra a Russian nuclear powered submarine of Akula class but minus long range nuclear capable missiles due to world restrictions. INS Chakra is more of use to learn how to operate a complex weapon system like a nuclear submarine.

It was in 1970 that India began the hunt for a nuclear submarine. It was in late 1990s that actual construction began of the three SSBN submarines under the secret Advance technology vessel (ATV) project. In July 2006 INS Arihant the first ATV was launched into water for construction at Vishakhapatnam shipyard. In Aug 2013 the INS Arihants nuclear powered reactor got critical. In Dec 2014 INS Arihant went in for extensive sea trials before being commissioned now for active service.

The second indigenous nuclear powered submarine INS Aridaman is also almost complete and will join service by early 2018.

The second indigenous nuclear powered submarine INS Aridaman is also almost complete and will join service by early 2018.

With Chinese gifted ‘Hong Niao’ nuclear capable cruise missile having a deadly 10 meter CEP (margin of error), masquerading as Babur in Pakistani hands, Indian Defence planners are in no doubt that it will be directed at the Indian nuclear delivery means at the first opportunity. So, especially, when seen in the light of the declared Pakistani nuclear policy of first use of nuclear weapons against India. Pakistan has also been shouting from the roof tops that it has Nasser tactical nuclear tipped missiles in its arsenal, again a Chinese gift, which it will use against Indian cold start doctrine.

However the arrival of Indian nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant on the scene has decisively blunted this Pakistani advantage, bringing in status quo in India’s favour.

India with its declared policy of no first use of nuclear weapons was at a great disadvantage till now. This Indian policy envisages that it will absorb the first nuclear strike of the enemy and then retaliate with its second strike. Needless to say the enemy will try to take out as many delivery means of ours as possible in its first strike only. Till now we had Prithvi, Agni -1, Agni-2 and Agni -3 nuclear capable missiles as our land delivery means while the likes of SU 30 MKI and Mirage 2000 fighter aircrafts catered for our air delivery systems. Location of these land missile silos as also the air bases operating these fighter aircrafts, both are vulnerable to enemy nuclear strikes since their locations can be found out by the enemy. Not so when an INS Arihant type SSBN nuclear powered submarine is around, hiding deep down in Arabian Sea with its nuclear capable missile ready to be launched at moment’s notice. This provides India a second launch capability which is robust, infallible and potentially insuperable.

We should not just be content with INS Arihant. China, our main adversary is having seven SSN and three SSBN class nuclear powered submarines.

110 meters long, 11 meters wide and weighing just 6000 tons, INS Arihant is the smallest nuclear SSBN in the world. As compared to 12000 to 16000 tons behemoths fielded by other five powers (America, China, UK, France and Russia) it is really a baby. Nevertheless if one takes into account its four missile silos mounting 15 Sagarika nuclear capable missiles having a range of 750 miles, the land cruise missiles and anti ship torpedoes then baby it may be but is really a boomer. INS Arihant is powered by an 80 megawatt nuclear reactor. It can travel at a speed of 28 kmph on surface and 70 kmph underwater. It can cover anything up to 15000 to 25000 miles in a sixty day operational patrol without any need of refuelling.

All the other five countries that have nuclear powered submarines, they first constructed an SSN hunter killer submarine. Having gained experience by operating it then only they graduated to the SSBN type capable of firing nuclear tipped missile under water. India is the first country in the world that has taken a huge technological leap and has straight away constructed an SSBN. The biggest advantage of a nuclear powered submarine is that unlike a conventional diesel electric submarine, which has to surface after every 48 to 72 hours for oxygen and battery charging, thereby being vulnerable to enemy anti submarine warfare, a nuclear powered submarine can remain sub merged for months.

With three or four Arihant class SSBN submarines of India submerged deep down in Arabian sea and cruising along about 200 to300 kilometres away from Pakistani coast line, which Pakistani General will be so fool hardy to think of first nuclear strike against India, well knowing that 48 to 50 Indian submarine based nuclear missiles are pointing at the heart of Pakistan all the time with capability to wipe out Pakistan from the face of the earth many times over? Yes there is no doubt that INS Arihant is the final weapon and total game changer.

To mount a long range nuclear capable missile on submarines we will have to build a heavier submarine between the ranges of 12000 to 16000 tons.

We should not just be content with INS Arihant. China, our main adversary is having seven SSN and three SSBN class nuclear powered submarines. With its 8000 kilometre range Submarine launched missiles (SLBM) and 12000 km range land launched ICBMs China is a class apart. Even though we are working on 3500 km range and 5000 km range missiles we must speed up the work.

To mount a long range nuclear capable missile on submarines we will have to build a heavier submarine between the ranges of 12000 to 16000 tons. This work also must commence at the earliest. In this context our taking this year the latest Nerpa class Russian nuclear submarine on lease for ten years from Russia is a step in the right direction.
© Copyright 2016 Indian Defence Review

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