We really need to invest in SSGNs, as an offshoot of the S5 Class SSBN. 13,000+ ton, pumpjet propulsion, advanced sonar via NPOL and VLS tubes consisting of BrahMos and Nirbhay. Around 54 - 72 missiles (via a 18 - 24 VLS layout). Prowl the oceans - Run Silent, Run Deep. Will also negate the VLS disadvantage that we have vis à vis the PLAN. And obviously torpedoes of Indian origin for self defense.
https://x.com/nazistaditya001/status/20 ... 69031?s=20 --->
The Titan Rises: India Begins Building its Deadliest Predator, the S-5.
The rumors were true. As of late December 2025, India has quietly commenced the construction of its most ambitious naval project to date—the S-5 Class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine. This isn't just another warship. It is the end of China's "geographic immunity." Forget everything you know about the Arihant. The S-5 is not just an upgrade; it is a generational leap that changes the nuclear deterrence game in the Indo-Pacific forever.
The "Behemoth" Scale:
The sheer size difference is staggering. The S-5 is designed to be a true blue-water monster.
--> Arihant Class is around ~6,000 Tonnes
--> S-5 Class is around ~13,500 Tonnes (More than 2x the displacement)
This increased displacement isn't just for show. It's for endurance, stealth, and massive payload capacity.
The Firepower: "Range is King":
--> The Arihant and Arighaat were about "regional" deterrence. The S-5 is about Global Reach.
--> Tube Count Jump from 4 tubes to 12-16 Vertical Launch Tubes.
--> It will house the K-6 SLBM.
--> Range is around 6,000–8,000+ KM (Intercontinental).
--> Capability is MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles).
--> The Impact from the safe haven of the Bay of Bengal, an S-5 can target virtually anywhere in Asia and beyond. This is the definition of a credible "Second Strike" capability.
The 190MW Heart: The S-5 isn't just bigger; it’s faster.
--> The new 190MW+ Pressurized Water Reactor solves the speed issue of the earlier Arihant Class.
--> It allows the S-5 to outrun hunter-killer torpedoes and reposition rapidly across the vast Indian Ocean without surfacing. It turns the hunter into a ghost.
The Geopolitical Message:
--> By commencing construction now (late 2025), India sends a signal before the next decade even begins: "The Indian Ocean is not a Chinese lake. And the Himalayas are not our only frontier."
--> The S-5 ensures that no matter what happens on the land borders, the "Third Leg" of India's Nuclear Triad is unbreakable.
What Comes Next?
--> With the first two hulls now being cut at Visakhapatnam, we are looking at an induction around 2030-2032. By the mid-30s, the Continuous At-Sea Deterrence (CASD) will be permanent.
--> India has officially entered the Big Boys' Club. The era of "Minimum Credible Deterrence" is shifting to "Assured Retaliation."
The "Behemoth" Scale:
The Firepower: "Range is King":
The 190MW Heart: The S-5 isn't just bigger; it’s faster.
The Geopolitical Message:
What Comes Next?
