The second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) ‘INS Arighaat’ was commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024 at Visakhapatnam.
Key points
- The boat christened as INS Arighat, translated to ‘destroyer of the enemy’, with pennant number S3, is the second in its class after INS Arihant, which was commissioned in August 2016.
- ‘INS Arighaat’ will further strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance nuclear deterrence, help in establishing strategic balance & peace in the region, and play a decisive role in the security of the country.
- INS Arighat is about 112-metre long and weighs around 6,000 tonnes.
- The nuclear reactor which is embedded in its hull can power the submarine to about 12 to 15 knots on surface and up to 20 to 24 knots when submerged.
- She can carry about 10 to 12 K-15 nuclear-tipped submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and like INS Arihant is equipped with four vertical launch tubes to launch the missiles.
- The missiles have a range of about 750 km.
- The strategic importance of INS Arighat is further amplified by its patrol capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. As India’s geopolitical focus increasingly shifts towards this area, having a second SSBN enhances its deterrence posture against any naval threat.
- Nuclear-powered submarines can act as a big deterrent to hostile nations, keeping India’s ‘no first-use policy’.
- Nuclear-powered submarines are more stealthier and run more deep and silent. They need not surface or snorkel for oxygen to recharge its batteries.
INS Aridhaman
- The third nuclear-powered INS Aridhaman, which is said to be bigger and more sophisticated and can weigh around 7,000 tonnes, is also under construction.
- This submarine will have more vertical tubes and can carry ballistic missiles with a range of over 3,000 km.
