This month came the Narendra Modi government’s decision to build two nuclear-powered attack submarines; this demonstrates that India is thinking of sub-surface warfare, not a third aircraft carrier. This decision makes strategic sense because aircraft carriers are more susceptible to China’s missile range. The move comes at a time when China is stepping up its activity in the region, and at least 10 Chinese warships, ballistic missile tracking vessels, and surveillance ships have been observed per month in the IOR since 2023. For instance, the Chinese surveillance ship Xiang Yang Hong 3 is at the moment anchored off Chennai in the South Bay of Bengal as Yuan Wang 7 tracking ballistic missiles near Mauritius.
It is found that, on average, seven to eight PLA Navy warships, along with three to four quasi-naval ships, are observed frequently in the IOR. It is likely to increase further as China considers long-range operations by its carrier-based formations. With this growing Chinese activity, Indian national security strategists have elected nuclear submarines as the main instrument to both contain and observe PLA activity, particularly in the southern Indian Ocean.
Currently, India deploys two nuclear ballistic missile submarines in the Indo-Pacific region; the third boat, named INS Aridhaman, will be launched next year. While the first of its class Arihant submarine has the 750 KMs range K-15 nuclear ballistic missile, all subsequent boats will be armed with both K-15 and 3500 KMs range K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles. In the realm of nuclear attack submarines, the Indian Navy plans to have a second Akula-class sub from the Russians by 2028. However, such contracts have been recently delayed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The fact that the Indian defense ministry under the Modi Government has approved these submarines reflects the new plan of operation where China, instead of Pakistan, is viewed as the main military enemy.
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