Deterrence messaging behind INS Arihant’s N-missile launch
Hindustan TimesOn October 14, the Narendra Modi government quietly announced the successful launch of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile from India’s first sub-surface ballistic nuclear INS Arihant. A day later, the Western Naval Command announced the return of the latest Kalveri Class diesel attack missile firing submarine INS Vela from an eight-and-a-half month deployment from its base port The Twitter handle of Western Naval Command said that the submarine recorded many achievements through her sustained operations at sea and completed an extremely successful mission-based deployment across the Indian Ocean Region. INS Arihant: The ghost of Indian Ocean Nuclear and diesel attack missile firing submarines are a very potent weapon in equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean as they are most difficult to detect due to the huge difference of temperature at the surface and in depth. Between SFC’s INS Arihant and Indian Navy’s INS Vela, the message to India’s adversaries is loud and clear: You are being watched, stay clear.