In the global arms race, especially in the field of nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered submarines, India is far behind its competitors. Given New Delhi’s acrimonious relations with China and the latter’s secret and unknown military intentions, for India to have a strong posture against the communist country, a credible second-strike capability is a must.
China has at least 11 nuclear-powered submarines, with proposals to acquire better and more capable SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles). Though it does not have the kind of SSBN reach that the US submarines have, China has nevertheless demonstrated its capability in aggressively manoeuvring in the mid-seas against its adversaries.
It is believed that China benefited from Soviet assistance in developing its submarine and missile capabilities. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is believed to have commissioned its first nuclear-powered submarine, the Han class, in 1974. This launch may have forced Indira Gandhi to immediately order official work to begin on the ATV, which had been under discussions since 1971.
The US and Russia are global giants in the game of building nuclear-powered submarines. The American navy’s Ohio class submarines carry a staggering 14 Trident-II D5 multiple-warhead missiles that can wipe out nations while the Russian Typhoon are the largest submarines ever built, with a displacement of 26,000 tonnes. The US navy’s entire submarine fleet is nuclear powered.
Some strategic analysts believe that the belligerence of China, its aggressive border patrols in northeast India, and its claims to Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang region are all influenced by India’s lack of a credible second-strike capability. The INS Arihant should, then, help place India in a position of strength when compared to its larger neighbour.
