Every year on April 11th, National Submarine Day is dedicated to the nation's maritime security, highlighting the role of submarines, the Indian Navy's hidden strength. India is emerging not just as an importer, but as a self-reliant maritime power. According to the Global Firepower Index, India is currently the world's eighth-largest submarine-owning nation, with a total of 18 submarines. Many of these are indigenously built, while others are developed through global collaborations.
India's Indigenous Submarines: The Hidden Strength of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)
India's nuclear submarine capability now poses a global challenge. Three major indigenous nuclear submarines have been developed so far:
• INS Arihant (S2) – India's first indigenous nuclear submarine, launched in 2009 and commissioned into the navy in 2016. It can launch nuclear missiles with a range of 750 kilometers.
• INS Arighat (S3) – Launched in 2017 and inducted into active service in 2024. It is the next generation of the Arihant class.
• S4 Submarine – Launched in November 2021, this submarine is currently undergoing trials. It carries eight medium-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,500 km.
• The construction of these submarines represents India's new identity in the "Advanced Technological Vessel" category.
Submarines Developed with Foreign Technological Collaboration
India has developed a total of 17 submarines in collaboration with various countries, many of which have been built in India:
1. Kalvari Class (Scorpene Class – Partnership with France)
Total 6 submarines: INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir, and INS Vagsheer. These are diesel-electric submarines equipped with state-of-the-art stealth technology and superior naval combat capabilities.
2. Shishumar Class (Type 209 – Partnership with Germany)
Total 4 submarines: INS Shishumar, INS Shankush, INS Shalki, INS Shankul. Two of these submarines were entirely built in India, marking the beginning of "Make in India".
3. Sindhughosh Class (Kilo Class – Partnership with Russia)
Total 7 submarines: INS Sindhughosh, INS Sindhuraj, INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhukesari, INS Sindukirti, INS Sindhuvijay, INS Sindhurakshak. These submarines possess deep-sea surveillance and enemy vessel neutralization capabilities.
Expansion of Submarine Power Towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat
The Indian Navy is no longer solely reliant on diesel-electric submarines but is expanding its capabilities with nuclear-powered submarines, looking towards the future. INS Arindham and next-generation submarine projects are in the pipeline, further strengthening India's maritime sovereignty. India's submarine capability has become not just a military strength but a crucial pillar of its strategic security policy.
This balance of indigenous technology and foreign collaboration is projecting the Indian Navy as a modern, sophisticated, and silently lethal force. On National Submarine Day, it is imperative to acknowledge that India now stands firmly in the depths of the ocean—hidden from view, yet ever vigilant.
