https://sputniknews.in/20241204/india-celebrates-navy-day-2024-heres-what-bharats-fleet-looks-like-today-8493219.html
India Celebrates Navy Day 2024: Here’s What Bharat’s Fleet Looks Like Today
India Celebrates Navy Day 2024: Here’s What Bharat’s Fleet Looks Like Today
Sputnik India
The Indian Navy plays a key role in securing India's maritime interests. On Navy Day, Sputnik India examines the strengths of the country's blue-water force... 04.12.2024, Sputnik India
2024-12-04T21:10+0530
2024-12-04T21:10+0530
2024-12-05T16:26+0530
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Widely regarded as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Navy (IN) is one of the largest maritime forces on the planet, having a large fleet of missile destroyers, frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, and submarines among others.In addition to this, the Indian Navy is part of a very small and select group of countries that operates nuclear-capable submarines, often described as "underwater fighter jets" by naval experts.Does India Have Nuclear-Powered Ships in Its Flotilla?Currently, India doesn't have a warship sailing the seas that is powered by nuclear energy, and has no project either to build a warship with nuclear propulsion, except the nuclear submarine programme, retired Commodore Anil Jai Singh, an veteran who spent over 28 years as a specialist submariner in Indian maritime force, told Sputnik India on Wednesday.The Indian Navy understands the concept and will assess it when the time is right, he added.The Indian Navy is among the very few navies in the world that currently have two functional aircraft carriers – the Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya, which gets its power from eight new generation boilers, and its maiden indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant runs on gas turbines.Meanwhile, the "Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear" (SSBN) completed the triad of India's nuclear deterrence, following the successful induction of nuclear ballistic missiles launched from both the surface and air.India's latest land-based nuclear-capable missile is the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which has a range of over 5,000 km.Additionally, India's arsenal includes a variety of air-launched nuclear missiles, including the BrahMos, which can be launched from land, air, and sea. Among the fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear missiles are the Sukhoi-30MKIs and Rafales.However, the sea leg of India's nuclear deterrence received a significant boost earlier this year when it successfully test-fired a 3,500 km range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, from the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal.What Does This Mean For India?Secondly, it strengthens the third (sea) leg of the nuclear triad – the most silent and survivable of the three delivery systems. Survivability is critical in light of India's 'No First Use' nuclear policy, as it ensures the capability of massive retaliation, he added.Thirdly, the missile's long range provides the Indian Navy with a larger 'circle of deterrence'. This means that an Indian SSBN on a patrol can exercise nuclear deterrence up to the limit of its weapon range, in this case, 3,500 km, Dasgupta explained.As this range increases, it enhances the capability of the Indian Navy's SSBNs to create the desired effect further and further away as missile ranges increase, he pointed out.Notably, India's two operational SSBNs, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, were commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2016 and 2024, respectively. While the INS Arihant can carry only K-15 nuclear missiles that have a range of 750 km, its successor, INS Arihant, is equipped with K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles that have a 3,500 km range.The country's third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine codenamed S4 aka INS Aridhaman was launched into ocean waters in October 2024.India's SSBN programme has progressed slowly and steadily, Dr Manpreet Sethi, a distinguished fellow at the New Delhi-based Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and the author of Nuclear Strategy: India's March towards Credible Deterrence, told Sputnik India.Given the complexity of the technologies involved and the constrained environment of technology denials in which India was forced to operate, the strategic programme had to be planned and executed carefully. The progress has been slow because of this but the next boats are going to gain from the experience of building and operations, she assured.SSNs: India's Achilles Heel?One must not forget that while India may have mastered the art of developing SSBNs, an SSN (Ship Submersible Nuclear) or nuclear-attack submarine still remains out of reach for the nation.At the moment, India has zero SSNs in its armada of naval boats, as India's SSN program had previously suffered from a lack of focus, Sethi said. All resources were directed towards the SSBN programme due to nuclear threats and the emphasis was placed on conventional submarines and strategic platforms for nuclear deterrence, she noted.India previously leashed a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) from Russia, which was rechristened INS Chakra. The Akula-class sub was inducted into service by the Indian Navy in 2012 before being returned back in 2021."Given India's nuclear doctrine of no first use, the survivability of nuclear forces for retaliation was considered imperative, hence SSBNs were prioritised," the expert underlined.Since the Indian Navy has long advocated for SSNs, the Indian government recently approved the construction of two SSNs, amid the Navy's expanding footprint in the IOR, she highlighted.In an ideal situation, one would need both capabilities, but for a resource-constrained country, the priority was placed on SSBNs. But it is likely that SSNs will now be fast-tracked, Sethi suggested.If India is able to build an SSBN, it can evolve that design into an SSN in terms of its capabilities being changed, Commodore Singh, who presently serves as the vice-president of the Indian Maritime Foundation, echoed.
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India Celebrates Navy Day 2024: Here’s What Bharat’s Fleet Looks Like Today
21:10 04.12.2024 (Updated: 16:26 05.12.2024) The Indian Navy plays a key role in securing India's maritime interests. On Navy Day, Sputnik India examines the strengths of the country's blue-water force vis-a-vis its nuclear capabilities.
Widely regarded as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Navy (IN) is one of the largest maritime forces on the planet, having a large fleet of missile destroyers, frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, and submarines among others.
In addition to this, the Indian Navy is part of a very small and select group of countries that operates nuclear-capable submarines, often described as "underwater fighter jets" by naval experts.
Does India Have Nuclear-Powered Ships in Its Flotilla?
Currently, India doesn't have a warship
sailing the seas that is powered by nuclear energy, and has no project either to build a warship with nuclear propulsion, except the nuclear submarine programme, retired Commodore
Anil Jai Singh, an veteran who spent over 28 years as a specialist submariner in Indian maritime force, told
Sputnik India on Wednesday
."A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is pretty expensive and extremely complex to operate. Therefore, unless the country really needs an aircraft carrier with nuclear propulsion or India decides to become a major league player in the global geopolitical balance of power, then New Delhi could be looking at a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier," Singh said.
The Indian Navy understands the concept and will assess it when the time is right, he added.
The Indian Navy is among the very few navies in the world that currently have two functional aircraft carriers – the Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya, which gets its power from eight new generation boilers, and its maiden indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant runs on gas turbines.
Meanwhile, the "Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear" (SSBN) completed the triad of India's nuclear deterrence, following the successful induction of nuclear ballistic missiles launched from both the surface and air.
India's latest land-based nuclear-capable missile is the
Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which has a range of over 5,000 km.
Additionally, India's arsenal includes a variety of air-launched nuclear missiles, including the BrahMos, which can be launched from land, air, and sea. Among the fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear missiles are the Sukhoi-30MKIs and Rafales.
However, the sea leg of India's nuclear deterrence received a significant boost earlier this year when it successfully test-fired a 3,500 km range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, from the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal.
What Does This Mean For India?
"First, it proves India's indigenous SLBM capability from the platform that is designed to fire such a weapon. Not just the weapon, the SLBM's fire control system, the rigorous processes of preparation, testing, and transportation ashore have also been validated," retired Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, former chief of the Eastern Naval Command, said in a conversation with Sputnik India.
Secondly, it strengthens the third (sea) leg of the nuclear triad – the most silent and survivable of the three delivery systems. Survivability is critical in light of India's 'No First Use' nuclear policy, as it ensures the capability of massive retaliation, he added.
Thirdly, the missile's long range provides the Indian Navy with a larger 'circle of deterrence'. This means that an Indian SSBN on a patrol can exercise nuclear deterrence up to the limit of its weapon range, in this case, 3,500 km, Dasgupta explained.
As this range increases, it enhances the capability of the Indian Navy's SSBNs to create the desired effect further and further away as missile ranges increase, he pointed out.
Notably, India's two operational SSBNs, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, were commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2016 and 2024, respectively. While the INS Arihant can carry only K-15 nuclear missiles that have a range of 750 km, its successor, INS Arihant, is equipped with K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles that have a 3,500 km range.
The country's third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine codenamed S4 aka INS Aridhaman was launched into ocean waters in October 2024.
India's SSBN programme has progressed slowly and steadily, Dr Manpreet Sethi, a distinguished fellow at the New Delhi-based Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and the author of Nuclear Strategy: India's March towards Credible Deterrence, told Sputnik India.
Given the complexity of the technologies involved and the constrained environment of technology denials in which India was forced to operate, the strategic programme had to be planned and executed carefully. The progress has been slow because of this but the next boats are going to gain from the experience of building and operations, she assured.
"It may also be remembered that China's first generation SSBN of Xia class were more as technology demonstrators and learning platforms. None of them is known to have conducted deterrence patrols. Such platforms have long learning curves which must be carefully traversed for their successful induction and utilisation for national security," the think tanker elaborated.
SSNs: India's Achilles Heel?
One must not forget that while India may have mastered the art of developing SSBNs, an SSN (Ship Submersible Nuclear) or nuclear-attack submarine still remains out of reach for the nation.
At the moment, India has zero SSNs in its armada of naval boats, as India's SSN program had previously suffered from a lack of focus, Sethi said. All resources were directed towards the SSBN programme due to nuclear threats and the emphasis was placed on conventional submarines and strategic platforms for nuclear deterrence, she noted.
India previously leashed a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) from Russia, which was rechristened INS Chakra. The Akula-class sub was inducted into service by the Indian Navy in 2012 before being returned back in 2021.
"Given India's nuclear doctrine of no first use, the survivability of nuclear forces for retaliation was considered imperative, hence SSBNs were prioritised," the expert underlined.
Since the Indian Navy has long advocated for SSNs, the Indian government recently approved the construction of two SSNs, amid the Navy's expanding footprint in the IOR, she highlighted.
In an ideal situation, one would need both capabilities, but for a resource-constrained country, the priority was placed on SSBNs. But it is likely that SSNs
will now be fast-tracked, Sethi suggested.
If India is able to build an SSBN, it can evolve that design into an SSN in terms of its capabilities being changed, Commodore Singh, who presently serves as the vice-president of the Indian Maritime Foundation, echoed.
"SSNs are complicated and sophisticated platforms and even countries that have been operating SSNs for 50-60 years, take almost 8-10 years to introduce a new class of SSNs due to the complexity involved in their manufacturing. That's why I believe if India gets cracking now, it should be able to put an SSN into the sea in 10-12 years from now," Singh concluded.
