INS Arighaat: India adds second nuclear-powered missile submarine to its fleet
INS Arighaat: India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighaat, was officially commissioned into the Indian Navy on Thursday. The event was held at the naval base in Visakhapatnam and was graced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
In a significant boost to India’s naval capabilities, INS Arighaat, the second submarine of the Arihant-Class, joins its predecessor, INS Arihant, in bolstering the country’s strategic defense. The ceremony, marked by high-profile attendees and an atmosphere of national pride, underscored the importance of this addition to India’s defense fleet.
During the commissioning ceremony, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the submarine’s role in strengthening India’s nuclear triad—a strategic framework that includes land-based missiles, air-delivered nuclear weapons, and sea-based missiles. Singh emphasized that INS Arighaat would significantly enhance India’s nuclear deterrence, contributing to the maintenance of a strategic balance and fostering regional peace.
Singh expressed confidence that INS Arighaat would play a pivotal role in fortifying India’s security. He articulated that the submarine’s capabilities would not only augment the country’s deterrence posture but also support its strategic interests, thereby playing a decisive role in ensuring national security.
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INS Arighaat: Things to know about INS Arighaat
The Arihant-class submarines, named after the Sanskrit term for “Destroyer of the Enemy,” embody the strategic value of India’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet. This name was selected from numerous options and received broad approval for its aptness and subtle representation of India’s commitment to its defense capabilities.
INS Arighaat, an advanced iteration of the INS Arihant, was constructed by the Shipbuilding Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam. This submarine is capable of reaching speeds of up to 24 knots (44 km/h) while submerged and 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) on the surface. It features a similar hump design as the INS Arihant and is equipped with four launch tubes. INS Arighaat can carry twelve K-15 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) with a range of approximately 750 kilometers or up to four nuclear-armed K-4 SLBMs with a range exceeding 3,500 kilometers.
INS Arighaat offers significant advantages over conventional submarines, including its predecessor, INS Arihant. It is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor, allowing it to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing.
India’s submarine development strategy encompasses both nuclear and conventional submarines, with plans to enhance its long-term submarine capabilities. This strategy includes the construction of six nuclear attack submarines in three phases and five additional Arihant-class submarines. The Indian Navy has already received six Kalvari-class submarines, with 15 more scheduled to be delivered under Projects 75 AS, 76, and 75 India.