India has officially commissioned INS Arighat, the country’s second nuclear-powered submarine equipped with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. The submarine was inaugurated on Thursday at a highly secure ship-building facility in Visakhapatnam, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and top security and military officials in attendance.
INS Arighat Joins India’s Nuclear Fleet
INS Arighat, measuring nearly 112 meters in length, is armed with K-15 missiles boasting a strike range of 750 kilometers. This new addition to the Indian Navy will work alongside its predecessor, INS Arihant, which became fully operational in 2018. Together, these submarines will enhance India’s nuclear triad, which includes the capability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea.
Second Arihant-Class submarine ‘INS Arighaat’ commissioned into Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh in Visakhapatnam.
PM Modi-led Govt is working on mission mode to equip soldiers with top-quality weapons & platforms: RMhttps://t.co/yV0NDIKYmV pic.twitter.com/KZ8MFgQlyc
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) August 29, 2024
Arihant-Class Submarines: The Backbone of India’s Sea-Based Deterrence
The INS Arighat, like INS Arihant, is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor, allowing it to stay submerged for extended periods—an advantage over conventional diesel-electric submarines that require frequent surfacing. The Arihant-class submarines, named for their stealth and capability, are part of India’s broader strategy to strengthen its naval defense.
Future Plans and Strategic Developments
India’s government is working on a comprehensive plan to develop its submarine fleet further. This includes the construction of five more Arihant-class submarines and six additional nuclear attack submarines in three phases. Additionally, a Rs 40,000 crore project is under review for building two 6,000-tonne nuclear-powered attack submarines, which will be armed with torpedoes and missiles and are expected to take at least a decade to complete.
On the conventional front, the Indian Navy has recently acquired six Kalvari-class submarines and is planning to expand its fleet with 15 more through various projects, including Project 75 India, Project-76, and Project-75 AS.
A Strategic Edge
INS Arighat and its sister submarine, INS Arihant, play a crucial role in India’s “no-first-use” nuclear policy. Their stealth and survivability make them vital for maintaining a credible deterrent against potential adversaries. While countries like the US, Russia, and China have larger SSBN fleets with longer-range missiles, India’s focus on enhancing its own capabilities ensures it remains a significant player in global naval defense.