India to complete the nuclear triad by 2011 with "K-4" series SLBM's

China,of course,is way ahead with around 240 warheads. While Pakistan is nowhere near getting a nuclear submarine,China has 10 of them in its 62-submarine fleet,with three being SSBNs (armed with longrange strategic missiles).India,in contrast,has just 15 conventional and aging diesel-electric submarines.

Consequently,INS Arihant is crucial to Indias nuclear deterrence doctrine,which revolves around a clear no-first use policy.A robust and survivable second-strike capability is hugely dependent on having nuclear-powered submarines,armed with SLBMs (submarinelaunched ballistic missiles ),which can operate silently underwater for several months at a time.

Admiral Verma said INS Arihant,which was launched at Vizag in July 2009,would have potent SLBM capabilities to complete the triad.With INS Arihants miniature 83 mw pressurized light-water reactor slated to go critical within a month or two for sea-acceptance trials,the navy also seems confident about the ongoing undersea tests of the 700-km range K-15 and 3,500-km K-4 SLBMs.The 6,000-tonne INS Arihant,which has four silos on its hump to carry 12 K-15 s or four extended range K-4 s,is to be followed by another two nuclear submarines under the secretive Rs 30,000 crore Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project.
The navy,on its part,is keen to have three SSBNs and six SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) in the coming years.The force will also finally induct the K-152 Nerpa submarine,on a 10-year lease from Russia,towards April-May 2011 after several delays.

While the 12,000-tonne Nerpa will not come armed with long-range missiles due to international treaties,it will help train Indian sailors in the complex art of operating nuclear submarines.It will also be a lethal hunter of enemy submarines and warships,armed with torpedoes and 300-km Klub-S cruise missiles.

Some of India Missiles