INS Arighat: India's New Nuclear Submarine Boosts Navy

 Commissioning of INS Arighat

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to commission India's second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat (S-3), in Visakhapatnam
• Quiet event to be attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, and top DRDO officials
• INS Arighat is a 6,000-tonne submarine armed with 750-km range K-15 nuclear ballistic missiles
• Part of the Arihant-class submarines, designed and built indigenously in India
• Marks a significant enhancement to India's nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability

Strategic Importance and Capabilities

• India now has two operational SSBNs: INS Arihant (S-2) and INS Arighat
• These submarines form a crucial part of India's nuclear triad and second-strike capability
• SSBNs can remain underwater for months, limited only by logistics, supplies, and crew changes
• Provide significant strategic leverage in the Indo-Pacific region
• Act as a deterrent to any navy attempting to flex its muscles in the area
• INS Arighat is an advanced version of INS Arihant, addressing previous technological gaps
• Equipped with indigenous nuclear reactor and missiles

Features include:

• • Nuclear-powered speed matching surface ships
  • Ability to stay submerged for months
  • Surface speed of 12-15 knots (22 to 28 km/h)
  • Underwater speed of 24 nautical miles (44 km/h)
  • Eight launch tubes for missiles
  • Advanced sonar communication systems and anti-radiation protection

Future Naval Developments and Plans

• Third SSBN, INS Aridaman (S4), set to be commissioned next year
• Fourth SSBN, codenamed S-4*, to follow shortly after
• Plans for a new class of larger submarines capable of carrying 3,000km range nuclear ballistic missiles with additional missile tubes
• Indian Navy approaching government for approval of two nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines (SSNs)

Upcoming commissioning of:

• • INS Surat (guided missile stealth destroyer)
  • INS Taragiri (stealth guided missile frigate)
  • INS Vagsheer (sixth Kalveri class attack submarine)
• Orders for three more Kalveri class submarines expected to be placed with Mumbai's Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd this year
• Long-term plans include construction of six nuclear attack submarines in three phases and five additional Arihant-class vessels
• 15 more conventional submarines scheduled for delivery under Projects 75 AS, 76, and 75 India