India Quietly Retires Nuclear-Capable Dhanush Missile System

In a discreet yet significant development, India has reportedly retired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile system. Once a crucial element of India’s naval nuclear strategy, the Dhanush missile system appears to have been decommissioned without much public announcement, marking a shift in the country's defense approach.

The Dhanush missile, a naval adaptation of the Prithvi series, was designed as a ship-launched, short-range ballistic missile with nuclear capabilities. Deployed primarily on two vessels, the INS Subhadra and INS Suvarna, it had a range of about 350 kilometers and could carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. The system was intended to provide India with flexible, sea-based deterrence options, enhancing its second-strike capabilities.

Recent evidence from satellite imagery and open-source intelligence has pointed toward the dismantling of key components of the Dhanush system. Notably, the stabilizer platforms, essential for launching the missile from ships, have been removed from both the INS Subhadra and INS Suvarna. Additionally, the lack of any operational reports or test launches involving Dhanush since 2019 has fueled speculation about its retirement.

The retirement of the Dhanush system seems to reflect India’s evolving strategic priorities. Experts suggest that the nuclear warheads initially assigned to Dhanush have likely been reallocated to more advanced, land-based missile systems, such as the Agni and Prithvi series. This shift aligns with India’s focus on enhancing the survivability and flexibility of its nuclear arsenal, particularly through land-based and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). The development of the K-series SLBMs, designed for deployment on nuclear submarines, likely played a role in making the Dhanush system redundant.

Several factors may have contributed to the decision to decommission Dhanush, including budgetary constraints, technological advancements, and a reevaluation of its strategic utility. The system’s limited range and older technology may no longer have met the demands of modern naval warfare, especially when more sophisticated platforms are now available.

The quiet retirement of the Dhanush missile is a noteworthy chapter in India’s broader nuclear modernization efforts. While the exact reasons for its decommissioning remain classified, this move underscores India’s commitment to refining and enhancing its nuclear deterrence capabilities, ensuring that its arsenal remains credible and resilient in the face of evolving regional threats.