India Considers Ballistic Missile Submarine Fleet

The Indian Navy adopted last month a new doctrine that calls for the construction of a nuclear ballistic missile submarine force, Defense News reported today (see GSN, Jan. 23, 2003).

“There is a strong case for India to acquire a nonprovocative, strategic capability and the most viable platform by all accounts is the submarine,” says the Indian Maritime Doctrine.

The doctrine establishes a framework for India’s pursuit of a ballistic missile submarine fleet, said an Indian Navy planning official. India would use foreign technology, possibly based on the French Scorpene- and Russian Amur-class submarines, to domestically produce about 24 submarines by 2030, the official said. 

In the meantime, India is considering leasing a Russian attack submarine, probably an Akula-class ship, which would arrive in two years, Defense News reported. India is also working to build its own nuclear submarine, known as the Advanced Technology Vessel. The submarine, based on the Russian Charlie-class cruise missile submarine, is expected to be deployed by the end of next year, two years ahead of schedule, Defense News reported (Vivek Raghuvanshi, Defense News, June 7).

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