India’s nuclear triad capabilities have significantly advanced with the recent commissioning of INS Arighaat, its second ballistic missile submarine, onAugust 29, 2024. This development follows the 2016 commissioning of INS Arihant, which completed its first deterrence patrol in 2018, establishing India’s nuclear triad. The nuclear triad refers to the ability to launch nuclear weapons from air, land, and sea platforms, a capability previously held by only a select group of nations: the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom.
INS Arighaat, commissioned in 2024, represents a technological leap forward from its predecessor. At 6,000 tonnes and 112 meters in length, it boasts improved sensors, periscopes, and nuclear propulsion technology, enhancing its stealth capabilities. Similar to Arihant, Arighaat is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water nuclear reactor, allowing for extended submerged operations compared to conventional submarines.
The submarine is armed with in-house built K-15 missiles with a range exceeding 700 km. It can carry up to four K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) with a range over 3,500 km, or twelve K-15 SLBMs. Arighaat‘s reported maximum speeds are 12-15 knots when surfaced and 20-24 knots when submerged.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that Arighaat will strengthen India’s nuclear deterrence, contribute to regional strategic balance, and play a crucial role in national security. The achievement aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in defense technology.
India now has two SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine) – INS Arihant (S-2) and INS Arighaat — patrolling the high seas as a crucial part of the country’s nuclear triad and second-strike capability (due to no-first-use policy). Next year, India is hoping to commission its third SSBN, INS Arindhaman.
The development of these submarines demonstrates India’s growing technological prowess in naval defense. As Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd) noted, India’s ability to construct and operate SSBNs with high indigenous content suggests it can potentially build any type of nuclear submarine.
