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India’s Undersea Warfare Capabilities
Context:
The year 2024 marked a significant chapter for the Indian Navy, beginning with Operation Sankalp’s expansion from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea.
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- This initiative ensured the safety of international shipping from piracy and attacks, such as those by the Houthis, reaffirming India’s status as a reliable security partner and first responder in the maritime domain.
- While operational readiness across various fronts underscored the Navy’s capabilities, undersea warfare stood out as an area of pivotal development.
Major Milestones
- Commissioning INS Arighaat: In August 2024, India commissioned its second indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighaat.
- The vessel, a critical asset in India’s nuclear triad, boasts advanced sonar and propulsion systems alongside upgraded acoustic dampening.
- Representing a step forward in indigenisation compared to its predecessor, INS Arihant, Arighaat enhances India’s deterrence capabilities.
- A significant achievement came with the successful testing of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from INS Arighaat.
- This missile, with a range of 3,500 kilometers, brings nearly all of China within striking range, bolstering strategic depth. Though the firing results are still under evaluation, its potential inclusion in SSBNs as a composite weapon package would be transformative.
- Greenlighting Project-77 (P-77): Soon after INS Arighaat’s commissioning, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved Project-77, clearing the construction of two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) at a cost of ₹40,000 crore.
- These submarines, featuring over 90% indigenous content, are expected to be delivered by 2036-37.
- The SSNs will not only enhance undersea combat capabilities but also safeguard deployed SSBNs, ensuring comprehensive maritime security.
- With these developments, India is poised to become the only non-P5 nation to operate both SSBNs and SSNs, a testament to its growing strategic maritime stature.
Progress in Conventional Submarines
- While nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs and SSBNs) open new strategic frontiers, conventional submarines remain indispensable.
- In this context, India’s Project-75, in collaboration with France, is set to commission its sixth Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vaghsheer, shortly.
- To offset the retirement of aging submarines, the Navy plans to procure three additional Scorpene-class boats, featuring an impressive 60% indigenous content.
- The efficacy of non-nuclear submarines has increased with air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology, extending their underwater endurance.
- India’s Project 75(I) aims to induct AIP-enabled boats, with Spain and Germany competing to construct these submarines.
- Initial builds are expected to feature a minimum of 45% indigenous content, scaling up to 60% in later iterations.
- Another promising development is the approval to build 100-tonne Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) for ₹2,500 crore.
- These UUVs will add cost-effective, high-return capabilities to India’s undersea arsenal, showcasing the strategic focus on leveraging niche technologies to address evolving maritime threats.
Overcoming Challenges
- The Navy’s efforts to build a balanced blue-water force, encompassing undersea, surface, and aerial assets, reflect the government’s emphasis on maritime stability.
- However, challenges such as budgetary constraints, prolonged project timelines, and delays in acquisition processes persist.
- Addressing these hurdles will require sustained funding, streamlined procurement, and efficient tender evaluation to align modernisation efforts with operational requirements.
A Vision for the Future
- Enhanced cooperation with strategic partners and maritime nations will play a crucial role in supporting India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision and promoting a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
- These efforts, coupled with advancements in undersea warfare, position India to not only safeguard its maritime interests but also emerge as a formidable maritime power in the decades to come.
