INS Arihant. (File photo)
Visakhapatnam: The Indian Navy got its second nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine, on Thursday. The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, commissioned the nuclear submarine capable of carrying nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles (submarine-launched ballistic missiles or SLBMs), here at Vizag, in the presence of the chief of defence staff, General Anil Chauhan, the Navy chief, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, and other senior defence officials and bureaucrats.
The commissioning of the SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) took place without much fanfare and publicity.
In his address on the occasion, Singh expressed confidence that INS Arighat will further bolster India’s nuclear triad, strengthen nuclear deterrence, contribute to strategic balance and peace in the region, and play a crucial role in the nation's security. He also praised the Indian Navy, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), and the country’s defence industry for their dedication and teamwork in attaining this capability.
He described the indigenously made strategic nuclear submarine as the cornerstone of India’s national power. He acknowledged that the country’s industrial sector, particularly the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), has benefited significantly from this project, leading to the creation of more job opportunities.
Earlier, on his arrival in Vizag for the commissioning of the nuclear submarine, INS Arighat, the defence minister was given a ceremonial guard of honour by the Navy at the Eastern Naval Command HQ.
India’s newest nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine, INS Arighat, is a critical enhancement to the nation’s strategic deterrence capabilities. INS Arighat is the second vessel in the Arihant class, following the lead submarine, INS Arihant, which was commissioned in 2016. These submarines represent India's commitment to bolstering its underwater nuclear arsenal and securing second-strike capabilities.
Built at the Ship Building Centre here at Vizag, the Navy’s latest SSBN, INS Arighat, shares several similarities with its predecessor SSBN, INS Arihant, but incorporates significant advancements. Initially named Aridhaman, Arighat was laid to be constructed in 2011 and launched at sea in November 2017. Since then, it took almost seven years to complete its sea trials and validate its entire mind-boggling complexity of systems, including its armaments.
INS Arighat has a length of 111.6 metres, beam of 11 metres, and draught of 9.5 metres. The submarine displaces around 6,000 tonnes of water and is powered by a pressurized water reactor developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
This reactor allows the vessel to operate submerged for extended periods, a crucial feature for maintaining stealth and survivability.
The submarine has a top underwater speed of 24 knots (approximately 44.45 kilometres per hour) and a top surface speed of 10 knots (approximately 18.52 kilometres per hour). (Knot is nautical mile per hour. One nautical mile is approximately 1.15 miles, which is around 1.85 kilometres.)
The armament of INS Arighat is formidable, featuring a suite of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Like INS Arihant, the Arighat also has four launch tubes in its hump and can carry up to four nuclear-capable K-4 SLBMs with a range of 3,500 kilometres. Alternatively, it can also be equipped with 12 K-15 SLBMs, which have a range of 750 kilometres.
These missiles enable the submarine to target strategic locations across a broad geographic range, significantly enhancing India’s deterrence posture. The K-15 missiles can cover most of Pakistan, while the K-4 missiles extend the range further, potentially reaching deep into China’s mainland.
Apart from the missiles, INS Arighat carries torpedoes and other explosive charges, including anti-ship mines.
In terms of design, INS Arighat reflects India’s advancements in submarine technology. It features a more refined and quieter propulsion system than INS Arihant, which improves its stealth capabilities. The submarine is also expected to have a more sophisticated electronic warfare and communication suite, ensuring it can operate effectively in contested environments.
The induction of INS Arighat is a significant step in India’s broader naval strategy, which aims to deploy a fleet of five Arihant-class submarines by 2035-36. These submarines are part of a larger naval modernization plan that includes building additional nuclear and conventional submarines, thereby enhancing India's maritime security and strategic deterrence.
Earlier this month, India Sentinels had reported that the commissioning of Arighat was imminent. As reported in the story, the government is now planning to give the green signal to construct two more nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarines (SSNs) in the first phase of “Project-77”, which eventually may see six of them in a couple of decades.
