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BIG STORY SEPTEMBER 06, 2024 | The Indian Eye 4

NUCLEAR SUBMARINE

A MESSAGE TO

CHINA

India has taken its nuclear deterrence to the next level. India and US are also enhancing their

defense cooperation. What does it mean for security in the Indo-Pacific region?

OUR BUREAU
Vishakhapatnam/New Delhi/
Washington, DC
n a major strategic development
on Thursday, a second Indian
Isubmarine capable of launching
nuclear missiles was commissioned by
India. INS Arighaat, the second ship
of the Arihant-class nuclear-powered
ballistic missile submarine, was com-
missioned into India’s navy at the city
of Visakhapatnam.
This class of submarine, with the
first boat INS Arihant commissioned
in 2016, is equipped with four large-di-
ameter missile silos. Each of them has
three tubes for K-15 ballistic missiles,
which have a range of 400 nautical
miles, according to Naval News’ mar-
itime security analyst H.I. Sutton.
“Each missile tube should be able to
fit a single K-4 missile,” Sutton noted.
In comparison with the K-15, the K-4 The commissioning of the Second Arihant-Class submarine ‘INS Arighaat’ took place in Visakhapatnam on Thursday (Agency photo)
is a full-size submarine-launched bal-
listic missile, which has an estimated wielding such power”. As long as they ity while providing a robust deterrence In this light, US Secretary of De-
range of 1,900 nautical miles. The Ar- exist, nuclear weapons should be used against its nuclear armed neighbors fense, Lloyd Austin lauded the Indian
ihant-class is also armed with torpe- in safeguarding peace and stability, not Pakistan and China,” said Venkatesh. Navy during his meeting with Defense
does for attacking submarines. muscle flexing or nuclear blackmail- One key reason on the need for Minister Rajnath Singh last Friday for
Nuclear triad refers to a three- ing, the expert told the Chinese outlet. India to be able to develop and sustain its “robust contributions” in uphold-
pronged delivery structure that is It was a clear sign that China is its own SSBN capabilities concern the ing freedom of navigation and region-
composed of land-based ballistic mis- deeply worried about this development. ambitions of China, which, far from al security. Welcoming Rajnath Singh
siles, submarine-launched ballistic The commissioning of the INS maintaining its claims as an Asia-Pa- to the Pentagon on August 23, Lloyd
missiles, and aircraft capable of carry- Arighat will serve to boost the coun- cific-centric power, is looking to ex- Austin discussed ongoing efforts to
ing nuclear bombs. try’s deterrence capabilities against tend its diplomatic, territorial, and deepen the Major Defense Partner-
The move is being seen as an ef- growing Chinese influence in the In- military claims far beyond its borders. ship between the United States and
fort by New Delhi to strengthen its dian Ocean. Commissioned into ser- This includes patrols by purport- India in support of a free and open In-
deterrents to deal with nuke-capable vice on 29 August, the INS Arighat edly nuclear armed Type 094 SSBNs do-Pacific region, the US Department
neighbors China and Pakistan. marked “a significant advancement” into the Indian Ocean, augmenting of Defense said in a statement.
Immediately after the launch of in India’s strategic submarine man- the regular deployments of the Peo- Secretary Austin and Minister
the submarine, a Beijing-based mili- ufacturing capabilities, according to ple’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Singh celebrated progress across sev-
tary expert who requested anonymity Kandlikar Venkatesh, defense analyst into the region. eral bilateral defense initiatives, in-
told the Global Times on Thursday at Global Data. China’s growing influence –and cluding efforts to increase supply chain
that with more nuclear-powered bal- “Armed with twelve K-15 Sagarika power – in the region is a cause of security, enhance maritime security in
listic missile submarines, “India’s nu- or four K-4 submarine-launched ballis- concern not only for India but also the Indian Ocean Region, and lever-
clear deterrence force has increased, tic missiles, INS Arighat substantially for the US which is worried about the age a new agreement to strengthen
but along comes its responsibility in enhances India’s second-strike capabil- navigation in Asian waters. Continued on next page... >>

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