India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) program has come a long way since the commissioning of INS Arihant in 2016. This brings a few key questions into the spotlight: Will India pursue continuous at-sea deterrence (CASD) or follow the Russian-originated bastion strategy? Who will maintain control over these submarines: the Indian Navy or the Strategic Forces Command (SFC)? And how does the growth of India’s SSBN count affect the deterrence equation vis-à-vis Pakistan?
Currently, India has three operational SSBNs – INS Arihant, Arighaat, and Aridhaman – with a fourth, INS Arisudan, set to join the fleet in 2027. After completing four Arihant-class boats, India will move on to the next phase of its SSBN program, building the S5-class submarines. These developments raise an important question: which strategy would India adopt for its SSBN force in the immediate future?
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