Introduction

INS Arihant, India’s first indigenously developed nuclear submarine, returned to the Indian shores on Monday after successfully completing its first deterrence patrol. The submarine is a vital cog in India’s quest in attaining a minimum deterrent nuclear ‘triad’ – the ability to fire nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea.

Do you know?

What is the composition of INS Arihant?

• INS Arihant is a 6,000-tonne submarine with a length of 110 meters and a breadth of 11 meters. The vessel will be able to carry 12 Sagarika K 15 submarine launched ballistic missiles that have a range of over 700 km.
• INS Arihant will be the first SSBN-type submarine in the Navy. It has also been reported that its sister vessel, the INS Aridhaman, is nearing completion.

What is SSBN type submarine?

• Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarines (SSBNs) are powered by a nuclear reactor and as a result, they can function submerged for months without having to surface. This feature allows them to travel further and with greater stealth.
• They are different from conventional SSK submarines, which use a diesel-electric engine as their power source, and have to surface daily to get oxygen for fuel combustion.

Missing Link in INS Arihant

• Induction of INS Arihant does not complete Nuclear Triad. INS Arihant would have to develop further capabilities to act as a nuclear deterrent.
• The range of nuclear tipped ballistic missile is insufficient to reach key targets in China and Pakistan.
• Further, to target enemy countries, it would have to go closer to the waters of enemy countries where it increases the chances of being detected and targeted.
• To ensure seamless and continuous presence, India needs 4 such submarines whose production and maintenance is extremely expensive.

Impact on Strategic Stability

• Induction of INS Arihant enhances maritime competition in the region, modernise naval fleet and seek to have enhanced presence in the region.
• Further, INS Arihant’s aggressive posture may lead to confusion and minor conflicts which may escalate into a full-fledged war.
• Thus, there is a security dilemma involved considering that whatever actions a country takes to secure itself could actually end up making itself more unsecure.
• For example, Pakistan could develop or purchase similar nuclear submarines with active help of China which may lead to increased instability in the region.
• Similarly, China’s Belt and Road Initiative may lead to revival of QUAD Security dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia.

Command and Control

• There are concerns regarding command and control of the use of nuclear triads especially those under water. The naval leg is essentially under the military custody and control.
• There will be no civilian presence on board an Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN). The captain of SSBN will be under Strategic Forces Command under military control who can launch nuclear missile on orders from political authority.
• However, the article mentions that there is no fool proof mechanism to ensure misuse of nuclear missile which can escalate into a regional war in the South Asian Region.

Way forward

• INS Arihant makes a robust nuclear deterrence, but also changes deterrence stability in South Asian Region.
• Nuclear Triad comprises of capability of nuclear strike from land, air and under-water. It is suggested to reduce investment in land and air strike capability and to increase under-water strike capability.
• USA and USSR in 1972 signed an agreement named “Incidents at Sea Agreement” which aimed to avoid confusion and accidents at sea and also to avoid escalation into full fledged war.
• India, Pakistan and China should enter into a similar agreement to avoid escalation of war in the region.