- Indian Navy commissioned the indigenous, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Aridaman and the stealth frigate INS Taragiri at Visakhapatnam.
- INS Taragiri is the fourth stealth guided-missile frigate of the Nilgiri-class under Project 17A, built with over 75% indigenous content.
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About INS Aridaman
- INS Aridaman (or INS Aridhaman) is India’s 3rd indigenous Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN).
- It is an upgraded version of the Arihant-class submarine, succeeding INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.
- The submarine was built at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam as part of the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme.
- ATV Project began in the 1980s to develop India’s indigenous SSBN fleet, with technical assistance from Russia, and is managed by DRDO, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and the Indian Navy.
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- Displacement: It has a larger hull displacing ~7,000 tonnes, allowing heavier payloads and longer underwater endurance.
- Propulsion: Uses an upgraded 83 MW pressurised compact light-water reactor (CLWR), allowing quiet operation, better stealth, and survivability.
- Armament: 8 Vertical Launch System (VLS), double the capacity of its predecessors; can carry 24 K-15 (~750 km range) or 8 K-4 (~3,500 km range) ballistic missiles.
Significance for India
- Nuclear Triad: Induction completes India’s Nuclear Triad, allowing nuclear weapon delivery from land, air, and sea.
- Second Strike Capability: Enables a sustained underwater presence for retaliation, supporting India’s “No First Use” (NFU) doctrine.
- Deterrence: Extended missile range and payload capacity strengthen India’s deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific.
- Global Status: India joins a select group of nations with a fully operational nuclear triad, including the USA, Russia, and China.
India’s Three Nuclear-Powered Submarines
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Submarine
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Displacement
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Armament
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Significance
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| INS Arihant (2016) |
~6,000 tonnes |
4 VLS; 12 K-15 or 4 K-4 |
First indigenous SSBN |
| INS Arighaat (2024) |
~6,000 tonnes |
4 VLS; 12 K-15 or 4 K-4 |
Enhanced survivability and stealth |
| INS Aridaman (2026) |
~7,000 tonnes |
8 VLS; 8 K-4 or 24 K-15 |
Doubles missile capacity |
About Nuclear Submarines
- Nuclear submarines use pressurised water reactors, allowing long endurance without surfacing, unlike diesel-electric subs that rely on batteries.
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Primary Classifications:
- SSBNs carry nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, designed for stealth deployment to ensure a nuclear deterrence capability.
- Ship Submersible Nuclear (SSN) are fast-attack submarines carrying torpedoes and cruise missiles, for anti-submarine and carrier protection roles.
- Ship Submersible Guided Missile Nuclear (SSGN) carry large cruise missiles, enabling precision land-attack missions from underwater platforms.
Read More > INS Taragiri
Source (IE | HT)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is INS Aridaman?
INS Aridaman is India’s third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
When was INS Aridaman commissioned?
INS Aridaman was commissioned in 2026 at Visakhapatnam.
How does INS Aridaman strengthen India’s nuclear triad?
It completes India’s ability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea.
What is INS Arighaat?
INS Arighaat is India’s second SSBN with improved stealth and survivability.
What is a nuclear submarine?
It is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor, enabling long underwater endurance.
