India recently added its second nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarine to its naval fleet, a development that the government claims enhances its nuclear deterrent in light of concerns regarding both China and Pakistan. However, India is still striving to keep pace with China, which is expanding its naval, land, and air capabilities amid ongoing tensions along their shared border.

The newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arighaat—meaning “Destroyer of the Enemy” in Sanskrit—was introduced during a ceremony on August 29 at the Visakhapatnam naval base, the center of India’s Eastern Naval Command located on the Bay of Bengal coast. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that this submarine will contribute to establishing a strategic balance in the region.

Currently, this balance favors China, which boasts the largest navy in the world, including six operational Jin-class nuclear-powered ballistic submarines that surpass India’s two submarines—Arighaat and its predecessor, INS Arihant—in terms of firepower. The Chinese submarines are capable of carrying up to twelve ballistic missiles with ranges exceeding 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles) and can accommodate multiple nuclear warheads, as reported by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a non-profit organization focused on missile defense development for the U.S. and its allies.

Both Arighaat and Arihant measure 366 feet in length and have a displacement of 6,000 tons, according to an analysis by the open-source intelligence agency Janes. They are equipped with K-15 Sagarika ballistic missiles that can be launched from four vertical launch tubes. However, the range of the nuclear-capable K-15 is estimated to be only about 750 kilometers (466 miles), which restricts the potential targets that can be engaged from the Indian Ocean.

Analyst Carl Schuster, a former director of operations, noted that the INS Arihant-class submarines can barely reach Chinese targets along the eastern Sino-Indian border from the shallow coastal waters of the northern Bay of Bengal, posing significant operational challenges.

India’s focus on its naval development extends beyond China, as noted by Abhijit Singh, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in Mumbai. Singh highlighted in an op-ed for the Hindustan Times that the primary motivation behind India’s enhancement of its second-strike capabilities is the notable expansion of both the Pakistani and Chinese navies in the Indian Ocean. He pointed out that Pakistan is in the process of acquiring eight Type 039B attack submarines designed by China, as part of its fleet modernization efforts. Singh emphasized that “Pakistan continues to reduce the maritime power gap with India.”

The longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan over the contested and heavily militarized Kashmir region, which both nations claim entirely, have resulted in three wars. The Line of Control serves as a de facto border between New Delhi and Islamabad. China plays a crucial role as one of Pakistan’s key international supporters and a significant investor in the country.

In April, India proudly announced its entry into the MIRV club, which includes the US, UK, France, Russia, and China, following a successful test of the domestically developed Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile. While Pakistan has claimed to possess MIRV technology, experts remain skeptical about the validity of this assertion.

Adversaries must treat such claims as credible to avoid being caught off guard in the event of a conflict. Korda concludes, “These systems are optimal for first-strike scenarios, yet they are also the primary targets in any retaliatory strike.”