India has reportedly launched its indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), code-named S-4*, in a quiet, low-profile event. The launch is said to have taken place at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. According to a report by Hindustan Times, this marks the launch of India’s fourth SSBN. The event occurred just one day after the inauguration of a Very Low Frequency (VLF) naval communication station on 15 October by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the Damagundam forest area of Vikarabad, Telangana, which aimed to enhance submarine communication capabilities.
When asked about the report, Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan declined to confirm any specific details during a press conference ahead of Swavlamban 2024. He stated, “We can only tell you that we have a sustained and very successful program underway. We are making good progress. The first submarine has been commissioned and is in service, and the second submarine has also been commissioned. Naturally, more submarines will follow. As for the submarine you’re asking about, it’s a good submarine which is going on well.”
The Indian Navy currently operates two SSBNs—INS Arihant and INS Arighat—both actively deployed in deep-sea patrols. The newly launched submarine, a significant addition to India’s nuclear deterrence, is capable of launching nuclear-tipped missiles. Equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles that have a range of 3,500 kilometres, the S-4 submarine represents a major milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen its naval capabilities and ensure strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The launch comes just weeks after India commissioned its second Arihant-class submarine, INS Arighat, into service on August 29. Meanwhile, India’s third submarine, INS Aridaman, is expected to be commissioned in 2025.
Meanwhile, on October 9, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the Indian Navy’s plans to construct two nuclear-powered attack submarines, aimed at strengthening deterrence against potential adversaries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
India is part of an elite group of nations – including the US, UK, Russia, and China- that possess nuclear-powered submarines and maintain a complete nuclear triad. While commissioning the second Arihant-class submarine, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remarked that the addition would significantly strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance its nuclear deterrence, and play a vital role in ensuring its security.
Ravi Shankar
