The United States of America appears to have decided that the best military option at the moment is to rely on a Cold War type coalition with its most trusted allies at its centre. As a result, it announced AUKUS, a trilateral security treaty between USA, UK and Australia. A military partnership to fight China’s growing threat in the Indo-Pacific.
US and UK will enable Australia to design and build eight nuclear-powered attack submarines which is the high point of the AUKUS partnership. However, tensions between Australia and France and the US have raged as Australia pulled out of a $40 billion contract with France inked in 2016 to provide submarines to Australia. In this partnership, the United States and Britain will transfer naval nuclear propulsion technology to Australia. Such a move represents a significant policy shift for the United States that has previously gone to great lengths to prevent the transfer of naval reactor technology to other countries except for its World War II ally, the United Kingdom, and now it’ll be for Australia.
But, if it is really about fighting China’s growing threat in the Indo-Pacific, then India should have been USA’s first choice. Why won’t the US give India a nuclear submarine?
Over the years, Indian Navy Chiefs and Navy veterans have raised the prospect of Indo-US cooperation on nuclear reactor propulsion technology. But their American counterparts have respectfully declined. The US has more than 70 operational nuclear submarines. It has more nuclear submarines than Russia, France and Britain put together. Indian officials began discussing the possibility of buying or leasing US SSNs, but the US showed no commitment to a stable defence relationship by leasing some Los Angeles-class SSNs to India. (SSN – Submersible Ship Nuclear)
Although, this request may seem unreasonable, given that India already operates nuclear submarines, becoming the sixth country in the world to have a nuclear submarine, when it commissioned INS Arihant in 2016. But Arihant is an SSBN (Submersible Ship Ballistic-Missile Nuclear), a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, a slow-moving bomber, a secret launch platform for nuclear weapons. What the Indian Navy wants is SSNs, Arihant and three more SSBNs are under construction and a part of the command of strategic forces.
The relationship between UK Australia is very different from that with India. Neither Washington nor London is likely to hand over any technology to India easily. A few years ago, Britain told India that “the kind of technology you were asking us for, we do not even give it to our close allies”. The US and the UK both have far greater technology. The reactors on America’s newest submarines do not need to be refuelled for the rest of their lives. Whereas the Arihant will have to be moved to a dry dock every six to seven years for refuelling.
The American nuclear submarine used the most sophisticated nuclear reactors. For example, the latest Virginia class SSNs have reactors that use bomb-grade uranium U-235 enriched to over 90%, designed to operate for 33 years without refuelling. The US has signed many military treaties with India like LEMOA or COMCASA, but, the US has consistently refused to discuss the possibility of any partnership with the technical know-how on naval nuclear reactors.
Why India wants SSNsThe Indian Navy wants the SSNs as it can carry the SSBNS with its carrier battle groups and perform a range of tactical missions to hunt down enemy warships. The key in an SSN is its high-performance nuclear reactor and that is why they are considered the most advanced nuclear technology. Only five permanent members of the UN Security Council have this technology. SSNs are widely considered to be the most technologically advanced military system ever created. They can go to incredible depths and unlike conventional diesel/electric Submarines, do not require the surface to recharge their batteries. Their submerged duration is limited only by the endurance of the sailors or the food supply of the crew. They can carry weapons twice the weight of conventional submarines and can carry and move twice as fast.
India is planning to build a fleet of six indigenous Project 76 SSNs along with a new nuclear reactor. The plan is ready for approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security this year. But even if it is approved, the first unit is not expected to enter service before 2032. Navy officials think the project may require outside help from Russia or France. In 2017 the Indian Navy chief visited a French shipyard for a closer look at its latest Barracuda class SSNs. In the meantime, it continued to request the US and the UK for nuclear reactor propulsion technology for submarines and surface ships. So if neither the United States nor the United Kingdom is available to help India, then France could be an option, but they would be quite expensive. After being betrayed by the old allies, France also wants to get back into an Indo-Pacific initiative. Earlier also they have supported India in acquiring defence technologies that the US has refused to supply.
India has a lot of experience in building nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines like the Arihant, and it can convert them into attack submarines too, but their top speed is only 18 to 20 knots underwater. A top speed of 30 to 35 knots is suitable for an attack submarine. A more powerful reactor would require design changes as well as higher stress tolerances for its hull and components.
Indian Navy leaders have also explored various options over the years. And France is already helping India build Kalvari class conventional submarines. Russians are also there. The Soviets gave India eight Foxtrot class conventional submarines. A top Soviet official hinted at the possibility of delivering a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the future. K-43, the world’s first real SSGN (Ship Submersible Guided Nuclear), cruise missile launching submarine was leased from the Soviet Union in 1987 was capable of firing anti-ship missiles from below the surface.
India will need protection from dominance as well as breathing space to reach its full potential to reset its economy on a more bullish path. This break will allow India to catch up with technology and strengthen its military. India will need to find an external balance as it prepares to fight its wars. The old practise should be broken and new alliances should be formed wherever there is a convergence of interests.
Meanwhile, India’s search for new naval nuclear reactors is on. Now it is likely that India may find France as a partner who will transfer nuclear submarine technology in the coming days.
