Indian Navy Plans Two New Nuclear Attack Submarines | 2024

The Indian Navy is reportedly planning to build two new nuclear attack submarines as part of a giant step in augmenting its maritime defense capabilities. This seeks to increase the naval forces in India in general with a view of increasing the reach of the navy in projecting power all over the Indian Ocean Region and beyond. This will help these submarines play a significant role in preserving the regional balance of power with the rapid growth of China's maritime presence.

The History of the Indian Navy Program

The history of the Indian naval program dates back to the 1960s. Indian naval fleet has been growing over the years into a balanced fleet; nuclear and conventional submarines are part of that balanced fleet. The commissioning of the INS Arihant, the atomic-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine, into service was, of course, a milestone in the capabilities of India's defense. Nuclear attack submarines are a requirement of strategy, being the final cardinal of the Indian Navy. These would supplement India's SSBNs and provide the Navy with deterrent and offense capabilities.

The SSNs concern nuclear attack submarines, as opposed to SSBNs, which are ballistic missile submarines. In contradistinction to SSBNs, whose primary design considerations pay homage to strategic deterrence, SSNs have a wide variety of missions, from hunting enemy submarines and ships, gathering intelligence, conducting special operations, and striking targets on land. Therefore, being able to stay underwater for vast periods, fast and stealthy, the SSNs can play a very irreplaceable role in naval warfare.

Indian Ocean Fleet

The Indian Navy operates a force mix of diesel-electric submarines and nuclear submarines, with seven by 2024 for the Indian Navy. There is an aircraft to be built in the 'Make in India' initiative, the Kalvari (Scorpion), under a technology transfer agreement with France. There is also an inland submarine lease, the INS Chakra, which is inducted from Russia, and has extensive experience in operating such advanced platforms.

The present submarine fleet is aging, and the rate at which new submarines are being inducted does not match the phase-out of older submarines. It has raised questions over the navy's ability to sustain an effective underwater deterrent at a time when China's naval activities in the Indian Ocean are intensifying.

Details of the New Nuclear Attack Submarines

The planned SSNs are a quantum leap in capabilities for the Indian Navy. Indigenously designed and built, they will be a demonstration of India's rapidly maturing naval technological capability. Of course, the submarine details remain classified, but advanced stealth technologies and state-of-the-art sonar and weapons systems are expected, besides a probable VLS for cruise missiles.

Indigenous Development

The country is therefore emphasizing self-reliance in the indigenous development of these SSNs in the area of defense production. The design process is expected to be led by the Defense Research and Development Organization. The experience of the Arihant-class SSBN program is expected to be instrumental in this regard.

Technical Specifications

Technical updates that are likely to be introduced within the new SSNs are advanced reactor designs that will provide more power output and propulsion efficiency. These new submarines also will be equipped with further advancements in sonar systems, which can trace away enemy submarines at long ranges. Other developments are advanced materials that will be introduced for submarines to the submarines' construction part, which will reduce the sound signature of submarines and make them more elusive.

Strategic Importance of the New SSNs

Adding SSNs to the Indian Navy's fleet will boost its strategic capability to a great extent. These submarines will be able to help India secure key areas of the Indian Ocean, such as the Straits of Malacca and the Persian Gulf, crucial to international trade and energy supplies.

Rise of Chinese Influence

This is mainly one of the primary drivers that are fueling the acquisition of the SSN to avoid the proliferation of China's increasing naval presence in the Indian Ocean. China has taken measures to strengthen its maritime presence in the area by constructing bases and positioning submarines. The SSNs of the Indian Navy provide a strong counterpoise to these attempts and ensure that India can protect its maritime interests and maintain freedom of navigation in this part of the world.

Maritime Security

They will also form a significant force multiplier in enhancing maritime security not only for India but also for the region as a whole. Being able to conduct ISR operations, SSNs can keep an eye on likely threats and ensure that sea lanes vital to maritime interests are safe and secure. Moreover, their ability to deliver direct hits against enemy assets can prove an adequate deterrent against offensive operations.

Challenges in SSN Development and Monitoring

Even though the desirability of the decision to create an SSN is pretty incontestable, it is by no means free from various challenges. The building of nuclear-powered submarines is a highly complicated, resource-intensive process that demands advanced technical skill and further entails major investments. Therefore, many big technical and industrial problems need to be surpassed in the successful construction and deployment of such submarines by India.

One of the major challenges for this project is the development of a nuclear reactor that would be reliable and able to meet all the requirements of the SSN. While India possesses experience with nuclear reactors for military and military contexts, the development of a reactor for attack cruisers is quite a leap forward. The reactor has to be compact but capable of driving the submarine at high speed for a long period.

Challenges lay not just in the reactor, but in building the submarine. A submarine is a complex and highly skillful craft and the fitting of complex systems into such a small area means that it poses huge challenges. Help in this regard in this sector may be sought by the Indian shipbuilding industry from international partners and expertise gained from earlier projects.

Economic and strategic considerations

Yet another challenge lies in the cost of developing and producing SSNs. Nuclear reactors are also one of the costliest forms of defense to be developed and maintained. The Indian Government will need to ensure that funds are spent on this program without compromising other defense needs.

Strategically, India should take a call on how SSNs can be integrated into the overall maritime strategy of the country. The deployment of SSNs will arguably alter the way the Navy functions, focusing more on energy and blue water capabilities. It must also ensure that the necessary infrastructure and support systems are in place to effectively operate these submarines.

Potential Implications for Regional and Global Security

The impact of inducting SSNs for the Indian Navy fleet is far-reaching on regional and global security. In the IOR, the number of Indian SSNs is the best guarantor against possible adversaries that helps maintain the balance of power, as no one country would dominate.