India inducts third nuclear-powered ballistic submarine INS Aridhaman at Visakhapatnam

Key facts

• India inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.
• INS Aridhaman is the third Arihant-class submarine and displaces 7,000 tonnes.
• The submarine is equipped with eight vertical launch tubes and can carry either eight K-4 missiles or up to 24 K-15 missiles.
• K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) have a range of up to 750 km, while K-4 SLBMs can hit targets 3,500 km away.
• INS Aridhaman strengthens India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent and completes a fleet of three operational SSBNs for the first time.
• India’s nuclear triad comprises land-based nuclear missiles, air-delivered nuclear weapons, and sea-based SSBNs.
• India’s nuclear doctrine follows a “no first use” policy, and SSBNs ensure a retaliatory second-strike capability.
• India joined the United States, Russia, China, and France as countries with full nuclear triad capabilities.
• The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) collaborated with private firms and Russia for the nuclear submarine project.
• INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, conducted its first deterrence patrol in 2018 and successfully launched an SLBM in October 2022.
• INS Arighaat, commissioned in 2024, is armed with indigenously built K-15 missiles and powered by 83 MW pressurised light-water nuclear reactors.
• India’s fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, is under construction and will carry additional K-4 missiles.
• India plans to build two indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) and lease one from Russia by 2027-28.