Recently, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in the Bay of Bengal from INS Arihant, India's first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. The missile was tested to a predetermined range and targeted a large surface area with a high frequency. All operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated.
The training for the launch of SLBM by INS Arihant was very successful and proved crew competence and validated the SSBN programme, which is a key element of India's nuclear deterrence capability.
The INS Arihant (SSBN 80) is an S2 strategic strike nuclear submarine. It is a lead ship of India Arihant's class of nuclear-powered missile submarines. It is a unique design which can be categorized as a ‘pocket boomer’.It was launched in July 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur. It was commissioned in 2016 after a series of sea trials. Arihant is the first ballistic missile submarine to be built by a country that is not one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
The Indian ballistic missile submarines now may be able to target any threats from Pakistan and China from underwater locations when deployed. The missile assured retaliatory capability, keeping in mind India's policy to have minimum deterrence and its ‘No First Use' commitment. The launch makes India the sixth country which can conduct nuclear strikes and counterstrikes on land, sea and air. The other countries with such capabilities are the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.
While India is the largest importer of arms in the world and continues to heavily rely on Russia for its military hardware, the launch of a ballistic missile from the indigenous submarine is a major milestone for India which is emphasizing the development of its own defence sector.
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