Conclusion

This study aimed to examine the patrolling strategies of the experienced SSBN powers which include the US, Russia, UK, France and China. The exercise was undertaken to assess the best patrolling strategy that the Indian Navy may consider for its nascent SSBN programme which will mature in the coming years. On this basis, the positives and negatives of the Cold War concepts of SSBN operations – open ocean patrolling strategy and bastion strategy – were discussed. The benefit of putting one SSBN always out in the sea in an operational posture called the Continuous at-Sea Deterrence (CASD) posture within the framework of open ocean patrolling or bastion strategy was carefully considered.