India Launches Its Most Powerful Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine
India has taken a major leap in defense by launching its fourth nuclear ballistic missile submarine, the S4*, on October 16, 2024, from the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, bolstering its nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The S4* submarine is equipped with the advanced K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which boasts a range of 3,500 kilometers, enhancing India’s undersea nuclear strategy.
The K-4 missile, tested in 2020, will join the K-15 missiles already in use on India’s existing SSBNs, adding a new layer of strategic depth to its nuclear defense.
With the launch of S4*, India now has two operational SSBNs: INS Arihant, in service since 2016, and INS Arighaat, commissioned in August 2024.
The INS Aridhaman, India’s third SSBN, is currently undergoing sea trials and is expected to be commissioned in the coming year, signaling continued growth in India’s SSBN fleet.
The S4* is larger and more advanced than the INS Arihant, built with over 75% indigenous components—a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in defense production.
In a strategic move, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently approved the construction of two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) to further strengthen India’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
India’s defense strategy emphasizes collective maritime security, with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh advocating for collaborative peace efforts in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.