Posted on 11/04/2004 8:12:56 PM PST by spetznaz
November 1, 2004: Normally, a test of India’s Prithvi short-range (300 kilometers) ballistic missile would not draw notice. However, a recent test launch near Chandipur was notable – not for occurring, but from where the Prithvi was launched – underwater.
At present, five nations have ballistic missile submarines: The United States (14 Ohio-class SSBN), Russia (7 Delta IV-class SSBN and 2 Typhoons), France (a total of four SSBNs between the L’Inflexible and Le Triomphant classes – the latter are replacing the former), the United Kingdom (4 Vanguard-class SSBN), and the People’s Republic of China (one Xia-class SSBN). With the successful underwater launch of the Prithvi, India has now cleared a major technological hurdle in its effort to join this club.
Building a SSB or SSBN is difficult. First, one has to be able to build submarines. India has been working on this for a while – with their construction of six French-designed Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines. One must also have reliable ballistic missiles – India has two in the Prithvi and the Agni. Another problem is to launch the missile successfully from underwater. The last requirement is the most important – submarines rely on stealth. Surfacing to launch a missile is a good way for a submarine to get spotted and sunk. The Prithvi will probably not be the candidate for submarine use due to its short range. Instead, the Agni-II is a more likely component, since its range is comparable to that of the Polaris A-1 (2000 kilometers to the 2200 of the Polaris).
One of India’s last major obstacles to deploying ballistic missile submarines is integrating the underwater-launch technology with a submarine design. One possible candidate is a stretched version of the Scorpene-class submarines India is building. That will only be a first step – the best nuclear deterrence submarines are nuclear-powered, which means they will not only be quiet, but they will never have to surface or snorkel to recharge their batteries. India has to be able to build both those SSBNs and the SSNs to protect them – and that will take time.
Despite those obstacles, India is well on the way to having a portion of its nuclear deterrence force in submarines.
Well,if your talking nukes ,the US can obliterate China with it's massively superior sub & intercontinental air launched nuke capabilities as China has little over 20 ICBMs & one cranky Xia class sub which doesn't venture out of port & whose acoustic signature can be picked up from Jupiter & no longrange bombers!! so a Chinese nuke strike would be of limited impact in practical terms atleast for the next 5 years.By around 2008,China will have around 3 new SSBNs which carry ICBMs(& not IRBMs) & a new class of mobile ICBMs.All this ofcourse if the Russians stay out .though i must say that America's reluctance(& India's as well) to lose a city or 2 as against a dictatorial China's willingness is bound to play a part.
About India-China,well India doesn't have weapon systems as of now which can target Beijing & Shanghai nor a solid second strike capability.That will change in the next 4-5years with the 3,000+km range Agni-3 IRBM & cruise missile equipped nuclear subs & more long range SU-30MKI fighter bombers(!!!) coming online.
BTW-im an Indian & being a patriot,i decided to use the name of the IAF's most potent aircraft as my id.FYI,the Su-30MKI is not completely Russian-it uses an Israeli HUD ,HMS & electronic warfare systems & also French avionics vastly improving it's capabilities & also allowing carriage of Western weaponry(like the Israeli Popeye stand off weapon or Python-4 AAM,both of which are rumoured to have been sold to the IAF).It's is equipped with the phased array Bars radar & also thrust vectoring engines,making many experts call it the most formidable Russian built jet to enter service.
I imagine US or UK attack subs trail the Russian ones, and the Chinese one when it can manage to leave port.
Between the US and UK we have 18 SSBNs, and I believe the Vanguard class subs are approximately equal to our Ohios. They carry the same Trident DII missiles...and aside from the Vanguard class being a bit shorter and lighter, and differences in hull and superstructure shape, they look quite similar.
The Brit boats only carry 12 Trident missiles(though they were designed to carry 16).About British attack subs trailing Russian ships,Im not so sure.Their Attack boat fleet(Trafalgar) hasn't been having a great time of late with lots of reports of Radiation problems etc.Moreover their main area of operations has always been in the Atlantic & the Med in concert with American forces.The Russian Akula class attack boats are not exactly easy to pick up for a Trafalgar class sub.
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