Issue Brief on “Commissioning of INS-Arighat: India’s Growing Undersea Nuclear Capabilities and its Implications...

India's modernization of its undersea nuclear capabilities is shifting the South Asian arms race to the sea, underscored by the recent commission of its second Nuclear-powered Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat. Simultaneously, the government of India has authorized a project to develop six nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), emphasizing India's demonstration of strength and commitment to advancing its undersea nuclear capabilities. The introduction of second-strike capability at sea serves as a significant development in the region's security framework, which has serious implications. Similarly, India's current modernization of undersea nuclear capabilities along with naval buildup is reflective of its aspirations to gain global power status and establish a blue-water fleet. These aspirations, as a result, trigger instability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and impact Pakistan's threat perception, as its main security concerns revolve around India.

Source: Compiled by Author using information from Times of India and Mathrubhumi.

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