Latest news with #SSBNs
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Science
- Times of Oman
India moves forward in developing K-6 missile
With a planned range of over 8,000 kilometres and the ability to carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), the K-6 marks a bold leap in India's strategic weapons programme, firmly placing the country among the few global powers with ultra-long-range hypersonic strike capabilities. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and being readied for deployment on the future nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) of the Indian Navy, the K-6 represents not just technological advancement, but a powerful symbol of strategic maturity and self-reliance. A technological triumph The K-6 missile is being designed with cutting-edge propulsion and guidance systems that allow it to fly at hypersonic speeds — more than five times the speed of sound — and remain highly manoeuvrable through its flight path. This gives it not only speed and reach but also the ability to avoid interception from current-generation missile defence systems. The missile's MIRV capability — which allows it to carry and deploy multiple warheads to separate targets — represents a significant force multiplier. This technical complexity and precision underscore India's rising stature in the global missile development arena, positioning the country as a leader in high-end aerospace innovation. Strategic independence and Atmanirbhar Bharat The K-6 project is yet another shining example of India's resolve to develop indigenous defence capabilities. As part of the broader 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative, the DRDO and associated institutions have been committed to ensuring that India's most critical defence assets are developed and produced domestically. From advanced composites for missile airframes to indigenous solid-fuel propulsion technologies, and from indigenous inertial navigation systems to cutting-edge MIRV tech, the K-6 showcases the best of Indian scientific and engineering talent. Moreover, the missile project has created a ripple effect across India's defence ecosystem, fostering innovation among startups, boosting local manufacturing, and contributing to the growth of a self-sustaining defence-industrial base. Indian scientists, engineers, and strategists are now working at the frontier of global military technology. Navy's new era The development of the K-6 goes hand in hand with India's naval expansion strategy. With plans underway for constructing the next generation of SSBNs, including those with greater endurance and improved stealth, the K-6 is expected to be the principal strategic weapon aboard these vessels. This alignment between platform and payload signifies a strategic integration that ensures not just the deployment of high-tech systems but their seamless incorporation into operational doctrine and mission planning. With the induction of the K-6, the synergy between conventional maritime power and strategic capability will be complete.
The Print
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
‘Strikes on nuclear infrastructure, disinformation nearly sparked nuclear crisis during Op Sindoor'
'This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons,' he added. 'The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis,' said Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. New Delhi: Referring to the hostilities between India and Pakistan earlier last month during Operation Sindoor, the latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has cautioned that disinformation and strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure nearly triggered a serious escalation. SIPRI released its 2025 annual report on the state of armaments, disarmament and international security on Monday, warning that a new and potentially more dangerous nuclear arms race is emerging, even as existing arms control frameworks continue to weaken. The report highlights AI as both a potential advantage and a major risk. Its ability to process vast datasets rapidly could compress crisis decision-making timelines, increasing the risk of miscommunication, miscalculation or even accidental conflict. According to SIPRI, India is estimated to have approximately 180 nuclear warheads as of January 2025, a slight increase over the previous year. These are distributed across a maturing nuclear triad comprising land-based missiles, aircraft and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). It further believes that India's recent move toward deploying canisterised missiles and undertaking sea-based deterrent patrols may indicate the country's fresh shift towards mating some nuclear warheads with their launchers even during peacetime. The assessment believes that India's Prithvi short-range missile is 'dual-capable' and acknowledges that in March 2024, India conducted the first flight test of its multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) equipped Agni-V under Mission Divyastra. Meanwhile, as per the report, Pakistan's estimated nuclear arsenal remains stagnant at around 170 warheads, though 'there is a continued development of new delivery systems and accumulation of fissile material, suggesting a potential expansion over the coming decade,' it reads. 'It is developing two versions of the Ra'ad (Hatf-8) air-launched cruise missile, though neither has yet entered service. Its Mirage III and possibly Mirage V aircraft currently serve as delivery platforms, with growing indications that the JF-17 may take over the nuclear delivery role in the future,' it reads. 'All of Pakistan's missiles, including the Nasr (Hatf-9), are believed to be dual-capable.' However, it adds that there is no certainty on whether all missile bases in Pakistan have been assigned nuclear roles. As per the assessment, while Pakistan continues to be the central focus of India's nuclear posture, it points to a growing emphasis in India on longer-range capabilities, particularly those aimed at covering targets across China. SIPRI identifies China as 'undergoing the most significant nuclear expansion' among all the nuclear-armed states. 'Its stockpile is estimated to have increased from 500 to 600 warheads in 2024, with at least 132 warheads thought to be assigned to launchers still being loaded'. The annual assessment further believes that China's DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile is a key dual-capable system offering flexibility in switching between conventional and nuclear payloads and adds, 'the CH-AS-X-13 air-launched ballistic missile, reportedly carried by H-6N bombers, to be nuclear-capable.' As of January 2025, SIPRI estimates that the nine nuclear-armed countries–the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel–together possess approximately 12,241 nuclear warheads. 'Of these, about 9,614 are potentially operationally available, and roughly 3,912 are deployed with military forces, and approximately 2,100 warheads are believed to be maintained at high operational alert on ballistic missiles,' it says. Although the total number of nuclear weapons worldwide continues to decline due to the dismantling of retired warheads by the United States and Russia, the report warns that the number of warheads in active military stockpiles is beginning to rise. It adds that the annual pace of dismantling has slowed and may soon be overtaken by the rate at which new warheads are being added to global arsenals. 'The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted till the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end,' said Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme. 'Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements.' On the future of security, stability and nuclear challenge The latest SIPRI's report further underlines that the arms race today is more likely to be 'qualitative rather than quantitative', driven by rapid developments in cyber warfare, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum sensing and space technologies. Quantum technologies, the report says, are likely to disrupt current cryptographic standards and enable novel forms of global surveillance. 'Until now, nuclear-powered submarines were considered virtually undetectable due to the vastness of the ocean,' the report notes. 'But quantum detection could challenge that assumption, potentially introducing new sources of instability.' Development of nuclear missile defence is also flagged as a concern by the assessment. 'If it works, it acts as an anti-nuclear shield, removing the fear of retaliation and thus undermining deterrence,' the report warns. The weakening of arms control agreements remains a key concern in the report. The report notes that the New START treaty, the last remaining strategic arms control accord between the United States and Russia, is set to expire in early 2026. It adds that there are currently no ongoing negotiations to renew or replace it. 'There are no signs that either side is interested in a successor treaty.' 'The signs are that a new arms race is gearing up that carries much more risk and uncertainty than the last one,' said Dan Smith, SIPRI Director. 'The rapid development and application of technologies in AI, cyber, missile defence, space and quantum are radically redefining deterrence and creating new sources of instability.' (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: China outspends India on defence in 2024, shows SIPRI report. Pakistan far behind
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Reveals Movements of Navy's Nuclear-Armed Submarines
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has disclosed the movements of its submarines—armed with nuclear missiles—for the second time this month, demonstrating its deterrent capability. The Submarine Group Ten, which oversees operations of the Atlantic ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) fleet, told Newsweek that it could not discuss submarine schedules or deployments because of operational security concerns. The unit is assigned with six SSBNs. Why It Matters The U.S. Navy operates a fleet of 14 nuclear-powered Ohio-class SSBNs, each capable of carrying up to 20 ballistic missiles. Eight of these submarines are based at Bangor, Washington, while the remaining six are homeported at Kings Bay, Georgia. The SSBN fleet forms part of the U.S.'s "nuclear triad," alongside strategic bombers and land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles to deter adversaries. The U.S. Navy rarely publicizes SSBN operations as the submarines are designed for deterrent patrols and launching missiles if necessary. One of the SSBNs, USS Kentucky, conducted an escort drill with helicopters in the Pacific, the Navy said on May 2. What To Know In a set of undated photos shared by the Submarine Group Ten on Facebook on May 15, USS West Virginia was seen making final preparations to depart its home port—Kings Bay—for "routine operations" in support of the country's strategic mission. The submarine was operated by its "Blue crew," one of two crew teams that alternate manning it. This two-crew system maximizes the SSBN's availability and reduces the number of submarines needed to meet strategic requirements, according to the U.S. Navy. This marked the second publicized departure of the West Virginia in more than two months. The submarine—manned by its "Gold crew"—was seen preparing to depart on March 12 for a strategic mission, according to photos released by the Submarine Group Ten. Meanwhile, USS Tennessee, another SSBN assigned to the Submarine Group Ten, was seen exiting a dry dock at Kings Bay following "months of hard work" of maintenance, according to an undated short video released on the unit's Facebook page on Monday. The Submarine Group Ten told Newsweek that its mission is to deliver "combat ready forces" by ensuring its submarines "are properly manned, trained, equipped and certified to conduct decisive combat operations around the world." On the West Coast, the Submarine Group Nine announced that USS Henry M. Jackson, one of eight SSBNs assigned to the unit, returned to its home port at Bangor on May 15 following a routine strategic deterrent patrol, according to photos released on Thursday. Strategic deterrence relies on a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent force, said the Pacific Northwest-based unit, which oversees submarine operations in the region. The United States Navy ballistic missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson arriving at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington following a routine strategic deterrent patrol on May 15. The United States Navy ballistic missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson arriving at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington following a routine strategic deterrent patrol on May 15. Lt. Zachary Anderson/U.S. Navy What People Are Saying The U.S. Submarine Group Ten wrote on Facebook: "This is a testament to [Team Kings Bay's] commitment to keeping our fleet ready and capable. This Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine [USS Tennessee] is one step closer to resuming its vital role in our nation's strategic deterrence mission." The U.S. Submarine Group Nine said on its webpage: "Ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) serve as an undetectable launch platform for intercontinental ballistic missiles. They are considered the survivable leg of the strategic deterrent triad, the others being long-range manned aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the U.S. SSBN fleet will conduct any test launches of its submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which can deliver nuclear warheads to targets more than 7,400 miles away, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US air-sea platforms for nukes at end-of-service period: Report
This is a representational image MUMBAI: The cost to operate, sustain, and modernize current nuclear forces and purchase new ones in the US will shoot up to $946 billion over the 2025-2034 period — 25% higher than the 2023 estimate — which works out to an average of about $95 billion a year, according to the latest estimate of the US Congressional Budget Office The report released in April shows that the estimate includes $357 billion to operate and sustain current and future nuclear forces and other supporting activities; $309 billion to modernize strategic and tactical nuclear delivery systems and the weapons they carry; $72 billion to modernize facilities and equipment for the nuclear weapons laboratory complex; $79 billion to modernize command, control, communications, and early-warning systems, and $129 billion to cover potential additional costs in excess of projected budgeted amounts estimated using historical cost report states that the current estimate of costs for the 2025-2034 period is 25% (or $190 billion) larger than its 2023 estimate of $756 billion, which covered the 2023-2032 period. The report states that nuclear weapons have been an important component of US national security since they were developed during World War the Cold War, nuclear forces were central to US defence policy, and a large arsenal was that time, nuclear forces have figured less prominently in defence policy than conventional forces have and, for several decades, the US did not develop and field new nuclear weapons or delivery systems, choosing instead to sustain or extend the life of existing report also points out that the nation's current nuclear forces are reaching their end-of-service period. US nuclear forces comprise submarines that launch ballistic missiles (SSBNs), land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), long-range bomber aircraft, and shorter-range tactical aircraft capable of delivering both conventional bombs and nuclear states that over the next two decades, these legacy weapon systems will have to be refurbished or replaced with new ones if the US were to continue fielding those capabilities. In addition, it says, many of the capabilities that support those nuclear forces — including the command, control, communications, and early-warning systems that DoD (department of defence) operates and the complex of laboratories and production facilities that DOE (department of energy) operates — are slated to be report also says the Sentinel ICBM programme has encountered significant cost growth in recent years.
AllAfrica
21-03-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
Sinking ship: US undersea nuclear deterrent's plunging credibility
Delays and cost overruns in the US Columbia-class SSBN program threaten the credibility of its undersea nuclear deterrent and ability to match China's naval expansion.' The US Navy's plan to replace its aging undersea nuclear deterrent faces costly delays, raising concerns about the credibility of its posture and future ability to keep pace with China's naval expansion. This month, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report mentioning that the US Navy faces an estimated 12 to 16-month delay in the delivery of its first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), threatening the timely replacement of aging Ohio-class SSBNs. The delay, attributed to shipyard workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions and component delivery setbacks—particularly Northrop Grumman's late turbine generators and Huntington Ingalls Industries' bow section—raises concerns about the impact on subsequent submarines. The US Navy is considering extending the service life of up to five Ohio-class boats to mitigate risks, but this strategy involves additional costs and logistical hurdles. Meanwhile, the simultaneous construction of Columbia-class SSBNs and Virginia-class attack submarines (SSNs) presents industrial-base challenges as shipyards and suppliers struggle to scale production. The US Navy and industry aim to increase Virginia-class production to two boats annually by 2028, yet the current output remains at 1.1-1.2 submarines per year. Rising costs compound the issue, with the Columbia-class program's procurement budget growing 12.1% in the past year alone. Further overruns could siphon funding from other US Navy shipbuilding programs, placing additional strain on the US Department of Defense's (DOD) long-term naval strategy. Amid ballooning costs and delays, the US may need to ramp up submarine production more urgently than ever. In an article this month for We Are The Mighty, Logan Nye mentions that, at present, China relies on anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) such as the DF-21D and DF-26B to keep US carrier battlegroups at bay from Taiwan. Nye points out those ASBMs are useless against SSNs that can evade them by diving. He also emphasizes that SSNs are self-sufficient for months, which may be critical if US supply chains in the Pacific are threatened. Further, in a 2024 American Affairs article, Jerry Hendrix suggests that SSNs may be considered the 'first response force' during a Taiwan conflict due to those advantages. However, Hendrix points out that the post-Cold War peace dividend eroded the US submarine industrial base, resulting in the US not having enough submarines when most needed. The situation is not much better for the US SSBN fleet, as it too suffers from a weak US submarine industrial base. The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) says that as of August 2024, 14 Ohio-class SSBNs form the foundation of the US sea-based nuclear deterrent. According to NTI, each Ohio-class SSBN has 20 missile launch tubes armed with the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The report also says the US Navy is replacing these older missiles with the Trident II D5LE, which has an upgraded guidance system for improved accuracy. The report mentions that assuming the US Navy has 12 operational Ohio-class SSBNs with 20 launch tubes each and four warheads per missile, they have 960 warheads. However, it mentions that only 8-10 Ohio-class SSBNs are typically deployed at one time due to regular minor repairs, so the number of active warheads in the field may be closer to 720. The US Navy's plan to retire Ohio-class SSBNs at approximately one per year starting in 2027 raises concerns about the credibility and survivability of the US undersea nuclear deterrent since they carry 54% of the US deployed nuclear arsenal. Emphasizing the importance of the US SSBN fleet, Geoff Wilson and other writers mention in a February 2025 Stimson Center article that SSBNs are the cornerstone of the US 'finite deterrence' doctrine, with SSBN stealth and survivability disincentivizing a first strike that would eliminate all other nuclear forces, creating strategic stability at lower cost. Wilson and others argue that the US SSBN fleet can maintain deterrence against multiple targets at a lower cost than intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which are less critical for deterrence than other delivery options such as bombers. However, a smaller US SSBN fleet could undermine the credibility of the US undersea nuclear arsenal. In a June 2020 article for The Strategist, Thomas Mahnken and Bryan Clark argue that while the US sea-based nuclear arsenal is the most survivable leg of its nuclear triad, it is also the most brittle. Mahnken and Clark argue that if an SSBN can't launch its missiles, communicate with commanders or is destroyed, all its missiles will be lost. They also highlight that losing only one SSBN on patrol could eliminate an entire leg of the nuclear triad. Further, they point out that the lethality of the US undersea nuclear deterrent has prompted near-peer adversaries like China and Russia to enhance their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities to target US SSBNs. Emphasizing the potential fragility of the US undersea nuclear arsenal, they project that during the 2030s, it is probable that only one Columbia-class SSBN will be operational at any given time in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, supported by one or two vessels at sea as backup. Despite those fragility concerns, Owen Cote Jr mentions in a January 2019 article in the peer-reviewed Bulletin of Atomic Scientists journal that SSBNs remain the most credible deterrent for the US due to their unmatched survivability and stealth. Cote Jr. highlights the historical effectiveness of US SSBNs, particularly during the Cold War, when they proved resilient against Soviet ASW capabilities. He also addresses concerns about emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum computing, which could make oceans transparent. Regarding those concerns, Cote Jr says these fears are largely unfounded, emphasizing the US's advanced acoustic surveillance systems, such as SOSUS and the Fixed Distributed System (FDS), that can detect Chinese or Russian submarines alongside its favorable maritime geography encompassing vast swathes of the Atlantic and Pacific, make it exceedingly difficult for near-peer adversaries to detect its SSBNs. Further, Stephen Biddle and Eric Labs mention in a Foreign Policy article this month that while China's shipbuilding capacity dwarfs the US's by a factor of 230, US warships are typically larger and have superior sensors, electronics and weapons. Contextualizing submarine capabilities, Biddle and Labs mention that China's submarine force consists of mostly conventionally powered submarines, while the US operates an all-nuclear fleet of 49 SSNs, 14 SSBNs and four nuclear cruise missile submarines (SSGN). They emphasize that, unlike their Chinese counterparts, US crews have battle experience and superior training. However, Biddle and Labs say that China is building aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines in half the time it takes the US to make the same vessels. They caution that the US places itself at serious risk by assuming future wars will be short and that debates over the US-China naval balance should be tempered by considering the dynamics of competitive production for naval wars of attrition.
