Latest news with #SilentShield
India.com
01-08-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Meet INS Varsha: Indias Covert Submarine Shield To Boost Second-Strike Capabilities; Undersea Facility To Outsmart China-Paks Maritime Game
photoDetails english INS Varsha: Indian Navy has recently proven its might that it can operate and dominate the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea unchallenged, if needed. During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy kept Pakistani naval forces hooked to their shores. Even a Turkish ship could not prove to be of any help. Now, India is making something unimaginable. Not far from the bustling naval hub of Visakhapatnam, deep in the coastal village of Rambilli, a silent transformation is underway. Cloaked in secrecy and guarded by purpose, INS Varsha—India's new strategic nuclear submarine base—is emerging as a cornerstone of national security. Updated:Aug 01, 2025, 08:22 PM IST Sea-Based Deterrence 1 / 14 INS Varsha isn't just another naval facility; it's the beating heart of India's sea-based nuclear deterrent and a critical asset in ensuring its second-strike capability in the event of a nuclear conflict. As the Indo-Pacific becomes a stage for maritime rivalry and strategic jostling, INS Varsha represents India's quiet but firm answer—one that dives deep, quite literally, beneath the surface. The Silent Shield 2 / 14 India follows a declared "No First Use" nuclear doctrine. To make that credible, it must have the ability to retaliate even after a surprise nuclear strike. Submarines—particularly SSBNs (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear)—are uniquely suited for this role. They can remain undetected for long periods and launch nuclear missiles from underwater, making them the most survivable leg of a nuclear triad. (Pic X/bharatontherise) Home To Stealth 3 / 14 INS Varsha is being developed precisely to support and shelter these stealthy deterrents. It provides a secure, purpose-built home for India's Arihant-class SSBNs and future SSNs (Ship Submersible Nuclear), which are nuclear-powered but conventionally armed attack submarines. (Pic X/IndiaInfra) A Strategic Necessity 4 / 14 For years, India's nuclear submarines operated from Visakhapatnam Port, which also services commercial traffic and other naval assets. This posed operational and security constraints. With India's nuclear submarine fleet growing and maritime responsibilities expanding, the need for a dedicated, high-security base became critical. (Pic X/bharatontherise) Launched In 2010 5 / 14 Thus, Project Varsha was launched in the early 2010s to provide India's Strategic Forces Command with a protected, modern facility on the eastern coast. The location—about 50 km south of Visakhapatnam—was chosen for its proximity to deep waters and relative isolation. (Pic X/UstadMaverick) Underground Submarine Fortress 6 / 14 One of the most remarkable aspects of INS Varsha is its emphasis on stealth and survivability. Unlike conventional ports, much of the infrastructure here is underground. The base will feature submarine pens carved into the hills, covered facilities for maintenance, and tunnel access to the Bay of Bengal—all designed to shield operations from enemy satellites, surveillance aircraft, and even drone reconnaissance. (Pic X/UstadMaverick) Strategic Command Centre 7 / 14 It's being developed with inputs from nuclear scientists, naval engineers, and strategic planners, with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) involved in auxiliary support and crew accommodation. This base isn't just a parking lot for submarines—it's a strategic command centre, capable of arming, maintaining, and launching nuclear subs with discretion. (Pic X/SamirSinh189) India's Deadliest Vessels 8 / 14 At the heart of INS Varsha's mission are India's Arihant-class SSBNs, developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. These submarines are armed with K-15 (750 km range) and K-4 (up to 3,500 km) ballistic missiles. (Pic X/Navy) INS Aridhaman 9 / 14 The upcoming INS Aridhaman, a second-generation SSBN, will be far more capable—reportedly carrying eight missile launch tubes, compared to four on the INS Arihant. These capabilities dramatically enhance India's nuclear strike range, offering the ability to target adversaries from deep in the Indian Ocean—without surfacing or being detected. (Pic X/Navy) Indo-Pacific Chessboard 10 / 14 INS Varsha falls under the jurisdiction of India's Eastern Naval Command (ENC), which has assumed increasing importance in recent years. With China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean—via its Djibouti base, Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, and increased submarine patrols—India is reinforcing its eastern maritime frontier. (Pic X/Navy) Counter To China-Pak Tango 11 / 14 INS Varsha complements India's broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which includes enhanced defence cooperation with partners like Japan, Australia, the United States, and ASEAN nations. It also aligns with India's commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and balancing China's assertiveness and Pakistani threats. (Pic X/Navy) Opening Date 12 / 14 INS Varsha is projected to be fully operational by 2026, though development will continue in phases beyond that. Upcoming additions include missile storage facilities, dry docks, satellite-proof communication nodes, and more underground shelters. (Pic X/Navy) Second-Strike Survivability 13 / 14 By anchoring these assets at INS Varsha, India ensures second-strike survivability, even in worst-case scenarios where land- and air-based deterrents are neutralised. (Pic X/Navy) 14 / 14
Time Out
06-05-2025
- Time Out
New York is giving out panic buttons to 500 bodegas
Roughly 500 bodegas across New York City will soon be outfitted with panic buttons, a new safety measure announced by Mayor Eric Adams in response to a string of violent attacks inside corner stores. The $1.6 million initiative will install SilentShield panic buttons in delis across all five boroughs, prioritizing high-crime areas. Once pressed, the button sends an alert directly to the NYPD's central command center—bypassing traditional 911 dispatch delays—and grants officers instant access to live security footage inside the store. 'Instead of just having the cats keeping away the rats, we're going to have a direct connection with the police to keep away those dangerous cats that try to rob our stores,' Adams quipped at a press conference Sunday outside Pamela's Green Deli in the Bronx, per the New York Post. While exact store locations are being kept secret for security reasons, the move comes in the wake of several disturbing bodega incidents: a gang of men impersonating NYPD officers stormed a store in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a knife fight in Inwood left a man dead, and another worker was stabbed six times during an early morning robbery in Harlem. Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the United Bodegas of America, has been calling for panic button technology for years. 'For so long, we've been asking,' he told the Post. The panic buttons will be installed by SilentShield, and their stealthy deployment adds a strategic layer of uncertainty for would-be criminals. 'No one knows who would actually have a device or not,' Adams told the paper. 'That adds to the omnipresent and the element of surprise that we're looking for.' At Sal's Deli on the Lower East Side, employee Abdul Saleh didn't mince words when speaking to ABC7 about the program: "People get shot, killed—sometimes you get robbed an the police never respond quick, come three or four hours late." Saleh is hopeful that the new buttons will bring swifter justice—and safer shifts. Whether this high-tech measure becomes a game-changer or a flashy Band-Aid remains to be seen. But for the workers behind the counter, it's a start.
CBS News
05-05-2025
- CBS News
NYC to invest in SilentShield panic buttons to protect bodega workers, customers. Here's how the tech works.
Hundreds of bodegas in New York City will soon get a panic button to keep employees and customers safe. On Sunday, Mayor Eric Adams announced $1.6 million will be invested in technology that will give police direct and immediate access to the bodega surveillance video once the button is pushed during a crime. Read more: Video shows suspects disguised as NYPD officers robbing bodega in Brooklyn How SilentShield technology works In a push to keep bodegas safe, the mayor announced the city's intent to use SilentShield technology -- a button that will be installed in the bodega that staff can press. It will call police immediately during an emergency. Back in June 2018, the city was shocked by the murder of 15-year-old Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. As the teenager sought shelter in a Bronx bodega, he was brutally killed by gang members in a case of mistaken identity. Officials say a panic button could have helped the owner call police faster. "Panic buttons is what's going to save the lives of so many. Not just the lives of bodega owners and workers; the lives of so many that have ran into a bodega seeking safe shelter and they've been killed," said Fernando Mateo of United Bodegas of America. Officials say the buttons will be installed in 500 stores in the city and you won't know which shops have them. Police say once the SilentShield button is pressed it will directly connect police to the store's surveillance. "It gives our responding officers situational awareness to keep them safe. It helps with timely apprehensions and it gives our Detective Squad great tools to catch people after the fact," NYPD Chief of Department John Chell said. United Bodegas of America will be seeking competitive bids for the SilentShield technology and officials say installation is expected in the coming months. Bodega workers, customers welcome the initiative Dario Dominguez told CBS News New York he keeps a close eye on who comes into his Frederick Douglass Boulevard bodega. "When you got outside, you never know what could happen," Dominguez said. Police say a 33-year-old was fatally stabbed just feet away from the front door on Saturday morning. "Very bad. Too much problem, you know?" Dominguez said. "Anything can happen. Somebody is having a bad day, they knock into somebody, and it spills in to a fight," a customer said. "Sure, I would feel more safe," another added.
