Context:
India quietly launched its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) at the Ship Building Center (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, enhancing its nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Relevance:
GS III: Defence
India’s Fourth Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN), Codenamed S4*
Development and Capabilities
- The fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, is notable for its high level of indigenous content, nearly 75 percent, showcasing India’s advancing capabilities in defense technology.
- Equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles, S4* has a significant strike capability with missiles having a range of 3,500 km. These missiles are launched from vertical launching systems, enhancing the submarine’s operational readiness and strike capabilities.
Evolution and Comparison
- S4* is part of a class that began with INS Arihant. While INS Arihant is equipped with 750 km range K-15 nuclear missiles, its successors including INS Arighaat, INS Aridhaman, and now S4* carry the more advanced K-4 ballistic missiles.
- Following the commissioning of INS Arighaat in August 2024, and with INS Aridhaman scheduled for commissioning the following year, S4* represents the latest advancement in this submarine lineage. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat are already conducting deep-sea patrols.
Naming Convention
- Reflecting a systematic naming convention that ties back to India’s first leased nuclear attack submarine INS Chakra (S1), the progression has been consistent: INS Arihant (S2), INS Arighaat (S3), INS Aridhaman (S4), and the latest, S4*, which awaits a formal name.
General Characteristics of SSBNs
Strategic Military Role
- Only a few countries operate SSBNs, including the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and India. These nations utilize SSBNs for their strategic nuclear deterrent capabilities.
- SSBNs are primarily designed for second-strike purposes, to ensure a country’s ability to respond with nuclear weapons even after a devastating first strike, thus underpinning the principle of mutual assured destruction.
- The operational effectiveness of an SSBN is highlighted by its virtually unlimited range. The only constraints are food supplies, crew fatigue, and maintenance requirements, allowing these submarines to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing.
-Source: The Hindu
