Ballistic missile submarine

I think the trajectory we are on is much better.

But it is not a quid pro quo, it is not a comparison of order of battle when you come to submarines and SSBNs.

It is their threat perception, nuclear doctrine, stuff like that which come into how many they need and how good they are.

That is what comes in.

76, I think, and they're going to start coming

in.

What is your assessment of building these SSNs, as they're called, after we've become reasonably mature in SSBNs? And how does that fit in with this submarine that's going to come from Russia? What do we need that for, sir?

So, I mean, we call it a stopgap.

Yes.

Okay, that is saying, well, those things operating in the South China Sea looking for Chinese SSBNs, they could be Australian too.

Yes.

So Australian submarines are now a threat to the US, to the Chinese extended nuclear deterrence.

We've done a podcast on Kusha recently.

We've done podcasts on Zorawar, on SSBNs, on Sudarshan Chakra, on P-17 frigates.

All of our frigates and destroyers are world class.

They're 100% to an Indian design.