Recently, INS Arighaat, Indian Navy’s second nuclear submarine, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. The 6,000-tonne INS Arighaat will join its predecessor, the nuclear submarine INS Arihant, as a key component of India’s nuclear triad, which refers to a country’s ability to launch nuclear missiles from platforms in the air, land, and at sea.
It aims to further strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance nuclear deterrence, help in establishing strategic balance and peace in the region, and play a decisive role in the security of the country.
These submarines have the ability to survive a surprise attack and execute retaliatory strikes, given India’s “no-first use” nuclear policy.
The Arighaat is significantly more technologically advanced than the Arihant, with the indigenous systems and equipment which were conceptualised, designed, manufactured and integrated by Indian scientists, industry, and naval personnel.
The triad was a central element of the US military strategy (and, to a lesser degree, that of the Soviet Union) during the Cold War, with its concomitant arms race. The theory underlying the triad was that spreading the assets comprising the country’s extensive nuclear arsenal across various weapons platforms would make the force more likely to survive an attack by the Soviet Union and to be able to respond to a first strike successfully.
India's nuclear weapons policy is that of "no first use" and "minimum credible deterrence," which means that the country will not use nuclear weapons unless they are attacked first, but the country does have the capability to induce the second strike.
India is part of a select group of countries with nuclear triad capabilities. These countries include the United States, Russia, China, and France.
Nuclear weapons are meant for deterrence, which is a strategy employed by countries possessing nuclear weapons to prevent adversaries from initiating a nuclear attack by convincing them that the costs and consequences of such an attack would outweigh any potential benefits.
Now, India must add punch to its nuclear arsenal by testing its long-range Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) which can be launched by its nuclear submarines.
However, to counter the growing threat from China’s modernising nuclear arsenal, India should invest in developing and deploying advanced missile defence systems, like expediting development of Agni VI.
While maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, India should also focus on strengthening its conventional military capabilities. This can help deter conventional conflicts that may escalate to the nuclear level.
India has been ramping up its nuclear weapons programme in recent times. In March this year, India tested a missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, known as MIRVs, first developed by America in the 1960s.
These are small warheads, crammed atop a single missile, each capable of striking targets hundreds of kilometres apart from one another. The test is a technological triumph for Indian scientists.
Also, nuclear submarines like Arihant and Arighaat are strategic weapons to influence a large area of operation beyond borders. These would definitely be very effective in being a part of Force Multiplier harnessing resources of Indo-Pacific Command, QUAD etc., for peacefully resolving international issues by thwarting regional hegemony.
The two nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines can offer huge strategic leverage and act as a deterrent to any navy trying to flex its muscles in the region, given India's location at the centre of the “Indo-Pacific.”
Chinese experts have said that India should wield this power responsibly and contribute to peace and stability, rather than use it to flex muscles.
With more nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, India’s nuclear deterrence force has increased, but along comes its responsibility in wielding such power.
India is a major stake-holder in Indian Ocean Region, which is going to play major role in case of any conflicts breaking out in this region. Present Israel-Hezbollah conflict is in a very explosive situation, which may spill over to entire Asia any time. This is, perhaps the right time when the Arighaat has been launched.