In recent days India has taken two major steps towards greater military preparedness. When the nuclear reactor on board the country’s first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, went critical last week, India took a significant step towards the building of a nuclear triad capability, namely being able to fire nuclear missiles from land, air and sea.
The United States, Russia, Britain, France and China have preceded India in this endeavour by many years. Moreover, India’s own nuclear-powered submarine that can despatch nuclear-tipped missiles has to undergo about 18 months of sea trials before it can enter service. But it is evident that a very important security arena milestone has been reached. As nuclear subs can stay underwater for prolonged periods, they hide easily from the enemy. About 90 per cent of US and Russian nuclear-capable attack submarines are sea-based.
Also, in launching its first indigenously-built aircraft-carrier INS Vikrant, India has made it to the exclusive club of the US, Russia, France and Britain. The Vikrant (named after our first carrier, decommissioned in 1997) took a long time to materialise, but it now gives us a sea-based platform for attack, defence and reconnaissance aircraft to operate from. The signal importance of this can hardly be overlooked as we head towards a blue-water navy that will give us the military capability to operate far from Indian shores. This, like the possession of a nuclear triad, has deterrence value. Indeed, the Navy must be upgraded progressively and more aircraft-carriers will be called for.