Rear Admiral K Raja Menon (Retd.), a distinguished veteran naval officer, has called for a substantial expansion of the Indian Navy's nuclear attack submarine fleet in a recent interview with Major Gaurav Arya. He stressed the urgency of having 16 nuclear attack submarines equipped with long-range attack cruise missiles by 2047.
Menon emphasized the strategic significance of nuclear attack submarines, particularly given the escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, especially the South China Sea.
He asserted that a minimum of four nuclear attack submarines would be required to effectively operate in the South China Sea, with the remaining submarines deployed in other areas of the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Navy is already on course to expand its nuclear attack submarine fleet, with the first submarine slated to join service by 2033-34. However, Menon advocates for accelerating these plans to address the escalating security challenges confronting India.
Menon's call for a significant expansion of the Indian Navy's nuclear attack submarine fleet highlights the critical role of this strategic asset in ensuring India's maritime security and power projection capabilities.
He envisions a future where India possesses a potent submarine fleet capable of influencing Beijing's decision-making, particularly regarding claims on Arunachal Pradesh, and thus easing pressure on the Himalayas.
In addition to the expansion of the nuclear attack submarine fleet, Menon also touched on the importance of aircraft carriers and highlighted the need for large aircraft carriers capable of carrying a substantial number of strike aircraft. He believes that the presence of such aircraft carriers can significantly influence the foreign and defense policies of other nations.
The discussions also highlighted the challenges of limited resources and the need for a comprehensive tri-service strategy to ensure effective utilization of the available budget.
Menon believes that India can achieve this strategy without the need for significant reforms, leveraging existing tri-service institutions and the inherent culture of cooperation between the services.
Menon acknowledged the importance of addressing asymmetric threats, emphasizing the Indian Navy's ability to adapt and respond to such challenges. He emphasized the role of land attack cruise missiles as an effective weapon against countries using their homeland to project militancy.
Finally, Menon reiterated the need for India to accelerate its naval capabilities to counter the growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean region, especially considering China's influence in the Maldives. He emphasized the importance of dominating the Malacca Strait and establishing a strong presence in the South China Sea to deter China's ambitions and protect India's interests.
