The Chief of the Indian Navy recently announced that India will soon induct its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, strengthening the country’s strategic deterrence capability.
About INS Aridhaman
INS Aridhaman is India’s third indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and the second submarine of the Arihant class.
It is being constructed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Project, India’s classified programme for building nuclear submarines.
The submarine is being built at the Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam, with major technological inputs from Indian scientific and defence establishments.
Technical Features of INS Aridhaman
Displacement and Propulsion
INS Aridhaman has a displacement of approximately 6,000 tonnes when surfaced and 7,000 tonnes when submerged.
It is powered by an 83 MW pressurised water nuclear reactor, developed and supplied by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
Armament and Combat Capabilities
INS Aridhaman is equipped with four vertical launch tubes capable of carrying:
Up to 24 K-15 “Sagarika” submarine-launched ballistic missiles, each with a range of about 750 km, or
Longer-range K-4 ballistic missiles with a range of up to 3,500 km, enabling strategic and intercontinental strike capability.
To enhance stealth and survivability, the submarine is fitted with anechoic tiles for acoustic damping and advanced sonar systems, reducing detection by enemy anti-submarine warfare platforms.
Strategic Significance
As an SSBN, INS Aridhaman forms a critical component of India’s nuclear triad, ensuring a credible second-strike capability and strengthening nuclear deterrence.
History of India’s Nuclear Submarine Programme
INS Arihant
INS Arihant was the first submarine under India’s SSBN programme and the country’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine.
It was launched in July 2009 and commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2016.
INS Arighaat
The Indian Navy commissioned its second indigenous SSBN, INS Arighaat, in August 2024, further expanding India’s undersea nuclear deterrent.
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