SSBN – The Diplomat

An Era of ‘Submarine Diplomacy’?

Michito Tsuruoka — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:48:00 +0900

The long-standing dilemma between deterrence and reassurance is set to play out again.

Commissioning of Russia’s First Upgraded Borei-Class Ballistic Missile Sub Delayed

Franz-Stefan Gady — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 22:53:00 +0900

The Knyaz Vladimir is expected to be delivered to Russia’s Northern Fleet by the end of June.

Russia’s First Upgraded Borei-Class Ballistic Missile Sub to Be Commissioned By May

Franz-Stefan Gady — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 02:31:00 +0900

The Knyaz Vladimir will be delivered to Russia’s Northern Fleet in April or May, according to a Russian defense industry source.

Russia’s First Upgraded Borei-Class Boomer to Be Commissioned in March

Franz-Stefan Gady — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 23:33:00 +0900

The Knyaz Vladimir will likely be delivered to Russia’s Northern Fleet in a month and a half, according to a Russian defense industry official.

H.I. Sutton on the Future of Underwater Warfare in the Indo-Pacific Region

Franz-Stefan Gady — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 01:31:00 +0900

What are some of the future strategic and technological challenges to submarine forces in the region?

Russia’s First Upgraded Borei-Class Ballistic Missile Sub Completes Sea and Weapons Trials

Franz-Stefan Gady — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 01:12:00 +0900

The Knyaz Vladimir successfully completed state trials earlier this month, according to the Russian Navy.

General Dynamics to Begin Construction of First Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Sub in 2020

Franz-Stefan Gady — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 03:03:00 +0900

Construction of the first-of-class Columbia could begin in late 2020, according to the CEO of General Dynamics.

US Ohio-Class Nuclear Sub Test Fires 4 Ballistic Missiles

Franz-Stefan Gady — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 22:08:00 +0900

The U.S. Navy conducted ballistic missile launches from a submerged submarine off the Californian coast earlier this month.

India Issues Tender for Heavyweight Torpedoes for Kalvari-Class Submarines

Franz-Stefan Gady — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:30:00 +0900

A tender for the procurement of 100 heavyweight torpedoes for the Indian Navy was reportedly issued earlier in July.

US Shipbuilder Cuts First Steel for Lead Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine

Franz-Stefan Gady — Mon, 27 May 2019 00:46:00 +0900

Huntington Ingalls Industries officially began construction for the first-of-class USS Columbia on May 23.

US Submarine Test Fires Ballistic Missile

Franz-Stefan Gady — Mon, 20 May 2019 02:25:00 +0900

The U.S. Navy conducted a ballistic missile launch from a nuclear-powered submarine off Florida on May 9.

India’s Submarine Fleet Still Lacks Modern Heavyweight Torpedoes

Franz-Stefan Gady — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:05:00 +0900

There has been little progress in the procurement of new heavyweight torpedoes for the Indian Navy’s submarine fleet.

Pondering China's Future Nuclear Submarine Production

Rick Joe — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 06:24:00 +0900

What will Chinese nuclear submarine production look like in the future?

Indian Navy Boomer Completes 'First Deterrent Patrol'

Franz-Stefan Gady — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 04:06:00 +0900

India’s first domestically built nuclear-powered ballistic missile sub has completed its first deterrent patrol.

US Navy’s Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program Faces Delays

Franz-Stefan Gady — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 17:16:00 +0900

A significant quality control issue has been discovered in several missile tubes destined for the Navy's new class of ballistic missile subs.

Russia’s First Borei-Class Ballistic Missile Sub to Undergo Repairs

Franz-Stefan Gady — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 18:43:00 +0900

The first-of-class SSBN Yuri Dolgoruky is slated to undergo repairs at a Russian shipyard.

Russia's Borei-Class Test Fires 4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles

Franz-Stefan Gady — Wed, 23 May 2018 22:39:00 +0900

This marks the first time that a Borei-class boomer launched four Bulava ballistic missiles in rapid sucession.

Russian Navy Receives Upgraded Ballistic Missile Sub

Franz-Stefan Gady — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 06:43:00 +0900

A retrofitted Soviet-era ballistic missile sub was delivered to the Russian Navy this month.

US Sub Test Fires 2 Ballistic Missiles in Pacific Ocean

Franz-Stefan Gady — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 00:38:00 +0900

The U.S. Navy conducted ballistic missile test launches from a sub in the Pacific Ocean in March.

INS Arihant Accident Raises Questions About the Sustainability of India's SSBN Force

Robert Farley — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 03:55:00 +0900

The Indian Navy finds out how difficult the business of operating a sea-based nuclear deterrent can be.

India's Lone Arihant-class SSBN Has Been Out of Service for Months

Ankit Panda — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 11:23:00 +0900

The Indian Navy has a serious submarine operations problem.

Estimate Says Sustaining and Modernizing US Nuclear Triad to Cost $1.2 Trillion Over 30 Years

Ankit Panda — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 10:45:00 +0900

Whatever the Trump Nuclear Posture Review decides, overhauling U.S. nuclear forces will be expensive.

Is India's Submarine Fleet Defenseless?

Franz-Stefan Gady — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:43:00 +0900

The Indian Navy’s most advanced submarines still lack adequate armament.

A Closer Look at China's Critical South China Sea Submarine Base

Damen Cook — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 00:05:00 +0900

A deeper look at Yulin-East, China's burgeoning submarine bastion in the South China Sea.

North Korea's Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Test Fails

Ankit Panda — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 05:06:00 +0900

North Korea tested its Bukkeukseong-1/KN-11 missile again. This time, the test may actually have been submarine-launched.

How Many Ballistic Missile Submarines Will Russia Build?

Franz-Stefan Gady — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:29:00 +0900

The head of the Russian Navy is considering increasing the number of SSBNs to be commissioned past 2020.

The Consequences of a Pakistani Sea-Based Nuclear Second Strike Capability

Ankit Panda — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 07:19:00 +0900

What happens to South Asian nuclear stability if Pakistan operationalizes a sea-based second strike capability?

Putin's 'Red October': Russia's Deadliest New Submarine

Franz-Stefan Gady — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 05:48:00 +0900

Should the United States be worried?

Congress Wants Taiwan at RIMPAC

Zachary Keck — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:16:00 +0900

Plus, ASEAN is building a domestic arms industry. Defense and security links.

Nuclear Bombers in an A2/AD World

Zachary Keck — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 07:23:00 +0900

Anti-access/area-denial capabilities will not impact the nuclear mission of America’s bomber fleet.

SSBNs and Strategic Stability in the Second Nuclear Age

James R. Holmes — Thu, 15 May 2014 01:52:00 +0900

New ballistic missile submarine fleets could destabilize the nuclear order.

US Strategy in the Second Nuclear Age

James R. Holmes — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:44:00 +0900

America's nuclear triad shouldn't be held sacrosanct just to please advocates in the U.S. Navy and Air Force.

US to Spend $1 Trillion on Nukes

Zachary Keck — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 14:56:00 +0900

The U.S. will spend $1 trillion over the next 30 years maintaining and modernizing its nukes, according to a new report.

Strategic Bombers: MVP of the Nuclear Triad

Lt Col Thomas C. Kirkham, USAF — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 08:13:00 +0900

Calls for the retirement of America’s nuclear-capable bombers make little strategic sense.

Credible Chinese Undersea Nuclear Deterrent is Imminent

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 03:11:40 +0900

The PLAN’s Type 094 Jin-class submarines will be capable of delivering nuclear JL-2s.

State Media Boasts of China’s Ability to Nuke US Cities

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 22:09:56 +0900

China’s state media reportedly boasted that Beijing can kill millions of Americans with its new SLBM.

China to Japan: Shooting Down Drones Would Be Act of War

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 17:41:10 +0900

Plus, South Korea hopes to deploy two light aircraft carriers by 2036. Monday defense links.

India’s First Ballistic Missile Sub to Begin Sea Trials

Tue, 30 Jul 2013 08:29:13 +0900

India will complete the nuclear triad after its first SSBN the INS Arihant, begins deterrent patrols.

China, India, & Pakistan Expand Nuke Arsenals

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:44:32 +0900

While global nuclear stockpiles are decreasing, Asia’s nuclear powers are beefing up their forces.

F-35 JSF: "A Phenomenal Flying Machine"

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:40:39 +0900

Can the F-35 wow defense experts? We present the top defense and foreign policy articles for your weekend.

Could New SSBN Program "Sink" U.S. Navy?

Fri, 03 May 2013 02:29:18 +0900

Could the purchase of new SSBN’s reduce the size of America’s fleet to dangerously small numbers?

A Nuclear Pivot to Asia?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:53:08 +0900

If America’s conventional superiority in Asia declines, then the relative importance of its nuclear edge will rise.

Don't Scrap America's Ballistic Missile Submarines

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:30:17 +0900

Some argue that the U.S. should eliminate its SSBNs or “boomers” to save money. Don’t listen.

Run Silent, Run 'Soviet?'

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:15:51 +0900

With Chinese and Soviet submarines possessing similar detection issues, would PLAN skippers utilize a similar strategy?

Japan: Joining the Nuclear Weapons Club? It Could.

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:26:46 +0900

“…the prospect no longer appears unthinkable.”