National: As intensified measures are underway to augment the submarine fleet of the Indian Navy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched India's fourth and latest nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Vishakhapatnam this week. 

Significantly, 75 per cent of the new submarine is indigenous and is named S4* for now. The strengthening nuke submarine fleet will provide a nuclear deterrence to India's adversaries and security to the large coastline. The Defence Minister launched the submarine project on October 16. The development comes as the production of the third nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridhaman is already going on. This highlights India's continuous efforts to bolster its arsenal to deal with any predictable or unpredictable adversities in a highly anarchic global order.

CCS approved two nuke submarines

On October 9, the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) provided a clearance to develop two nuclear-powered attack submarines given the evolving defence landscape of the Indo-Pacific. Notably, two nuclear submarines INS Arihant and INS Arghat have already been commissioned into Indian Navy. INS Arighat was commissioned in August this year. INS Aridhaman will be commissioned next year. 

Rajnath Singh lays foundation of Naval Station

Rajnath Singh launched the fourth nuke submarine just a day after laying the foundation stone of VLF Station in Telangana's Vikarabad. After laying the foundation, Singh took to X and said, "The facility will ensure ‘secure & real-time communication’ between ships/submarines with command centres safeguarding maritime interests."

He further added, “Indian Navy is the biggest guarantee of peace in the Indian Ocean Region. Maritime security is a collective effort; All friendly countries must work together to maintain peace & order in IOR. India believes in uniting rather than dividing; the Security wheel breaks if even one country is left out.”