INS Aridhaman: India inducts its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submari ...
Today India gets its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) with the commissioning of INS Aridhaman in Visakhapatnam, alongside the stealth frigate INS Taragiri. In a post on X, Rajnath Singh described the submarine’s name as “not a word, it’s power — ‘Aridhaman.'”The 7,000-tonne INS Aridhaman, built under the Rs 90,000 crore Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme, represents a leap in indigenous defence technology, with about 70% local content, advancing India’s self-reliance goals.
India now has a nuclear submarine rotation for the first time
The Indian Navy and Strategic Forces Command now welcome their third SSBN, enabling continuous at-sea deterrence (CASD) for the first time. With three operational SSBNs, INS Arihant, INS Arighaat and now INS Aridhaman, India can maintain a rotation that is considered the global gold standard for credible nuclear deterrence: one submarine on patrol, one preparing for deployment, and one undergoing maintenance.
This completes a key phase in building India’s nuclear triad, land, air, and sea-based capabilities, ensuring credible second-strike options against threats.
Arihant-class evolution
INS Aridhaman builds on its predecessors. INS Arihant (2016) was India’s first indigenous SSBN, foundational for second-strike capability. INS Arighaat, commissioned in August 2024, was the second in the class, featuring improved stealth and systems. INS Aridhaman is the third and most advanced, with a larger hull and significantly superior missile capacity — its eight vertical launch tubes double the four carried by both Arihant and Arighaat.
These submarines operate silently underwater for weeks or months, powered by nuclear reactors, evading detection while armed with nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
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Key capabilities
At 7,000-tonne displacement, INS Aridhaman is roughly 1,000 tonnes heavier than its predecessors. It features advanced stealth technology, including anechoic tiles and indigenous sonar systems such as USHUS and Panchendriya, designed to evade acoustic detection.
Its eight vertical launch tubes can carry up to 24 K-15 Sagarika short-range missiles (~750 km range) or eight K-4 intermediate-range missiles (~3,500 km range), all nuclear-capable. Powered by an upgraded 83 MW pressurised water reactor developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the submarine is capable of months-long submerged operations without surfacing. Cutting-edge communication, navigation, sensor, and weapon-control systems enable precision strikes.
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What is its strategic impact on India’s security?
INS Aridhaman fortifies India’s nuclear triad, ensuring survivable sea-based retaliation even after a first strike. It addresses regional security concerns, particularly China‘s expanding naval fleet, while projecting power in the Indian Ocean.
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