On 4th November 2024, Pakistan’s successfully tested an indigenously developed Ship Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) marks a significant step in its naval modernization efforts, underlining a shift toward precision-guided capabilities to bolster maritime security and deterrence. With a range of 350 kilometers, this missile can engage both land and sea targets with high precision, made possible by advanced navigation and maneuverability systems. This development signifies Pakistan’s move toward precision-focused defense strategies, aiming to strengthen its security posture in light of India’s expanding naval investments and growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
Pakistan’s focus on precision-guided systems reflects a pragmatic assessment of the region’s shifting defense dynamics. India’s defense budget reached $72.6 billion in 2023, and with the Navy’s share increasing from 14% to 19% , the Indian Navy now commands roughly $13 billion. This substantial allocation supports India’s ambitious plans to expand its fleet, which includes the construction of additional aircraft carriers and missile vessels to secure its influence in the Indian Ocean and beyond. By contrast, Pakistan’s 2024–25 defense budget stands at approximately $7.64 billion, with the Navy’s share amounting to $821.9 million. Given these resource constraints, Pakistan’s investment in precision missiles offers a strategic approach to naval deterrence, leveraging technology to counterbalance India’s fleet expansion without matching its scale.
India’s recent advancements in missile defense and naval capabilities illustrate its traditional focus on establishing a formidable, layered naval defense. In April 2023, India tested a sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile capable of countering Mach 7 anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), and in July 2024, it successfully trialed the Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, which can intercept missiles with ranges up to 5,000 kilometers. Combined with plans for six additional aircraft carriers, including a sister ship to the INS Vikrant, India is positioning itself as a key player in regional security. India’s naval ambitions are further reinforced by the construction of six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs), designed to enhance anti-surface warfare capabilities, secure maritime choke points, and project power across the Indian Ocean.
The development of Pakistan’s SLBM introduces an asymmetric counterbalance to India’s expanding maritime footprint. By focusing on precision and agility rather than fleet size, Pakistan’s SLBM capability is a pragmatic approach to its strategic objectives. This missile’s maneuverability and precision offer the flexibility to engage mobile or fortified targets effectively, presenting a credible deterrent to larger, high-value naval assets like aircraft carriers. In a conflict scenario, these precision-guided systems could complicate the operational calculus for larger fleets, requiring India to consider additional protective measures for its costlier assets.
Recent global conflicts highlight the shifting balance in naval engagements brought about by precision-guided weaponry. Ukraine’s use of precision-guided systems against Russian vessels in the Black Sea, for instance, demonstrated how agile, precise arsenals can impact larger, conventionally superior naval forces. For India, Pakistan’s emphasis on precision in its SLBM program introduces a comparable risk, presenting an adaptable and cost-effective deterrent that could potentially challenge high-value assets despite India’s defense investments. This context is particularly relevant as precision weaponry gains prominence in global defense strategies, with smaller, advanced arsenals increasingly recognized for their role in offsetting traditional material advantages.
India’s continued naval expansion places a priority on defending its fleet from potential precision-guided threats. While missile defense systems, such as the BMD, offer a degree of layered protection, large assets like aircraft carriers remain vulnerable in contested zones. India’s carriers are intended to project influence across the Indian Ocean, and protecting these high-investment assets requires comprehensive security measures. Conversely, Pakistan’s SLBM program represents a fraction of the financial commitment of India’s fleet but serves as a capable deterrent that can offset the effectiveness of larger fleets. This cost-benefit consideration illustrates Pakistan’s intent to maintain a secure defense posture without committing to a full-scale naval arms race.
The deployment of Pakistan’s SLBM reflects an adaptive defense strategy, emphasizing precision and technological flexibility. Rather than aiming to match India’s naval assets numerically, Pakistan is focusing on selectively advanced capabilities to ensure credible deterrence. Precision-guided missiles, such as the new SLBM, enable Pakistan to create a balanced deterrent framework without the expense of scaling up its fleet, which would require considerable resources. This approach acknowledges the shifting nature of maritime power, where precision and technology increasingly influence strategic advantage.
In South Asia’s naval context, Pakistan’s recent missile test emphasizes the value of precision and maneuverability in regional security dynamics. As the technological arms race continues, this approach may define the evolving maritime security environment, with both nations adapting to advancements in precision-guided capabilities. For Pakistan, the SLBM represents a commitment to a robust, cost-effective defense strategy; for India, it adds another factor in the considerations shaping its expanding fleet operations in the Indian Ocean and beyond.
