India launches fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
New Delhi: As diplomatic tensions with Canada simmer, India has discreetly strengthened its maritime defense by launching its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam. The new submarine, codenamed S4, was launched on October 16, bolstering India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Very Low Frequency Naval Station in Telangana just a day earlier, which will enhance command, control, and communication with India’s strategic naval assets.
This new SSBN is a significant upgrade, carrying 3,500 km-range K-4 ballistic missiles with vertical launch capabilities. It reflects India’s growing focus on indigenous defense manufacturing, with nearly 75% of the submarine’s components sourced domestically. Unlike the earlier INS Arihant, which carries K-15 missiles with a 750 km range, all successors—including the newly launched S4—are designed to deploy only the longer-range K-4 missiles.
The SSBNs, with virtually unlimited endurance constrained only by food supplies and crew fatigue, serve as a key element of India’s second-strike capability. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, the first two in the series, are already on deep-sea patrols. The third SSBN, INS Aridhaman, is set to be commissioned next year, while a Russian Akula-class nuclear attack submarine will join the fleet on lease by 2028.
India's focus on enhancing its submarine-based deterrence reflects a strategic shift, especially against adversaries like China. With long-range Chinese missiles such as the Dong Feng-21 and Dong Feng-26 posing a threat to aircraft carriers, the Modi government has prioritized nuclear attack submarines and ballistic missile platforms over the construction of a third aircraft carrier.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) also recently approved the construction of two nuclear-powered attack submarines to reinforce India’s presence in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the Indian Navy is boosting its conventional fleet, with the sixth Kalvari-class submarine, INS Vagsheer, set to be commissioned in December. Plans are also underway to build three more advanced diesel attack submarines in partnership with the French Naval Group.
Given the presence of 10-11 Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean every month and with China’s carrier-based patrols expected to increase by 2025-26, India’s strategic submarines are poised to play a critical role in securing its interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
