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).
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Maharashtra Congress chief Patole meets Kharge, dismisses resignation talk as 'rumours'
New Delhi, Nov 25: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday dismissed as "rumours" talk of his resignation following the assembly polls debacle and stressed on "collective accountability" for the defeat.
Patole made the remarks after meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during which he conveyed that the result had not reflected the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra.
"Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other national and state leaders were leading Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from the forefront during the assembly polls. So, we were sure that the trends were in favour of Maha Vikas Aghadi, even the citizens believed that," the Maharashtra Congress chief said.
"If I talk about Nanded, the Lok Sabha bypolls and assembly elections were held on the same day. In Lok Sabha bypolls, our candidate was winning in six assembly seats, whereas, in the assembly elections, we are not winning even a single seat," he said, adding that there cannot be such a "huge difference".
This is the sentiment among the people also and they have stated that this government in Maharashtra was not being formed on their votes, he claimed.
"So, I spoke to Mallikarjun Kharge on this," he added.
Asked whether he had offered to resign or the party had asked for his resignation after the Maharashtra assembly polls defeat, Patole said, "These are all rumours and there is no truth in them. There is collective accountability."
Patole also said he will meet Rahul Gandhi in a day or two and discuss all issues.
"Democracy is being finished. We have discussed that... there was no talk of resignation," he said.
The MVA alliance, comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT), was restrained to 46 seats by the Mahayuti that reaped a rich harvest of 230 seats in the 288-member House.
