India launches fourth nuclear submarine
New Delhi| India has launched its fourth nuclear powered ballistic missile (SSBN) submarine at the Ship Building Center (SBC) in Visakhapatnam to strengthen its nuclear deterrence capability against its adversaries. On 16 October, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh launched it at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. 75% of its goods are made in India. Its code name is codename S4. It is equipped with a nuclear ballistic missile with a range of 3500 kilometers.
The Navy’s S4 submarine is armed with K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles with a range of 3,500 km which can be fired through vertical launching system. While the first INS Arihant of its class can carry K-15 nuclear missiles with a range of 750 km. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighat are already patrolling the deep sea.
National security planners had named India’s first nuclear submarine INS Chakra as S1, INS Arihant as S2, INS Arighat as S3, INS Aridaman as S4. The last submarine of its class is the S4 which has yet to be formally named.
The central government is paying special attention to submarines against powerful opponents like China. This is why the government has given priority to nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines over the third aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy. The government has also increased the capacity of the conventional submarine along with the Kalvari class submarine INS Vagshir to be commissioned in December this year.
