For decades, the Indian Navy has incorporated yoga into its training regimen, a practice that has not only bolstered crew wellness but has also surprisingly provided insights into its strategic capabilities. Recently, this integration of yoga has taken an unexpected turn, revealing significant updates about India’s naval missile arsenal through a unique blend of social media activity and satellite imagery.
Yoga as a Window into Military Secrets
The Indian Navy’s commitment to yoga has been well-documented, with sessions frequently held onboard warships during port visits. These events, often captured and shared via social media, have unwittingly become a source of intelligence. It appears that a recent series of yoga-related posts and satellite images have offered a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of India’s naval deterrent, particularly concerning its nuclear-capable missiles.
The Enigmatic Dhanush Missile
India’s nuclear deterrence at sea has long relied on a somewhat unconventional weapon: the Dhanush missile. This missile, a naval variant of the Prithvi short-range ballistic missile, has been a critical component of India’s maritime strategy. However, its relatively short range and the need for liquid-fuel pre-launch posed significant operational challenges. Ships carrying the Dhanush had to navigate dangerously close to adversary coastlines, making them vulnerable.
The Dhanush’s role was always seen as a transitional solution while India developed more advanced sea-based deterrents. As the Indian Navy’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines began to enter service, it was anticipated that the Dhanush would eventually be phased out.
Unveiling the Shift Through Yoga and Satellites
The shift from the Dhanush missile became evident through an intriguing combination of social media updates and satellite observations. In December 2021, imagery from Airbus revealed two Sukanya-class patrol vessels at Naval Base Karwar. One vessel retained its missile stabilizers, while the other did not. The vessel without stabilizers bore new deck markings, which raised questions about its role.
The turning point came with a series of Instagram posts by India’s public broadcaster during a port visit to Seychelles in October 2022. These posts, initially focused on the crew’s yoga activities, inadvertently highlighted that the vessel with the new markings was INS Suvarna. This change indicated that INS Suvarna had indeed lost its capability to launch nuclear-capable Dhanush missiles.
Further analysis of satellite images revealed another Sukanya-class vessel, possibly INS Subhadra, undergoing aft deck construction at Naval Base Karwar. The deck’s new pattern, which appeared as a helipad, was captured again during a yoga session in February 2024. This pattern confirmed that INS Subhadra, like INS Suvarna, had also been stripped of its Dhanush launch capability.
The Implications of the Retirement
The removal of the Dhanush missile from active service represents a significant shift in India’s naval strategy. Although the missile itself has likely been retired, its associated warheads are expected to be reassigned to other systems, maintaining their strategic value within India’s stockpile.
This transition marks the culmination of India’s long-term plan to enhance its sea-based nuclear deterrent. The Indian Navy’s focus is now shifting towards its ballistic missile submarines, with INS Arighat expected to join the fleet by the end of 2024. These submarines will be capable of carrying a larger number of missiles compared to their predecessors, bolstering India’s underwater deterrent capabilities.
The story of how yoga sessions on the high seas revealed a major change in India’s naval nuclear strategy highlights an unusual intersection of wellness and warfare. What began as a routine practice for crew morale has provided critical insights into the evolving dynamics of India’s military capabilities. As India advances its strategic assets, it’s clear that even the most benign activities can offer revealing clues about the state of global defense.
