INS Aridhaman

Why in News?
INS Aridhaman, India's third Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), was commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 3, 2026. Commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, this advanced vessel boosts India's nuclear triad and maritime deterrence. It follows the induction of INS Arihant (2016) and INS Arighaat (2024)

Design and Construction

Class: Arihant-class (SSBN).
Project: Developed under the secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project.
Build Site: Constructed at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.
Launch: It was quietly launched in November 2017 and has since undergone extensive outfitting and trials.

Propulsion: Powered by an indigenous 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor (PWR) fuelled by enriched uranium.
Size: It is significantly larger and more advanced than its predecessor, INS Arihant, with a displacement of approximately 7,000 tonnes.
Speed: Capable of reaching speeds over 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.
Stealth: Features advanced quieting technologies and an indigenous sonar suite (USHUS) to remain undetected by enemy anti-submarine warfare (ASW) units.

Vertical Launch System (VLS): Equipped with 8 launch tubes, doubling the capacity of INS Arihant.
Missile Loadout:
- K-15 (Sagarika): Can carry up to 24 of these short-range missiles (750 km range).
- K-4: Can carry up to 8 of these long-range missiles (3,500 km range), allowing it to target deep inland from safe waters.
Torpedoes: Equipped with 533mm torpedo tubes for self-defence against enemy ships and submarines.

Nuclear Triad: Completes India’s ability to fire nuclear weapons from Land, Air, and Sea.
Second-Strike Capability: Because a submarine is difficult to track, it ensures India can retaliate even if its land-based silos are destroyed in a first strike.
Indigenization: Represents a massive leap for Atmanirbhar Bharat in high-end defence technology, as India is one of only six countries to operate nuclear-powered submarines.

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