India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant (Sanskrit: Ari = enemy; hanta = to destroy) was flagged off for sea trials from Visakhapatnam harbor – on the eastern coast in the state of Andhra Pradesh – by defense minister Manohar Parrikar. The Arihant, is a 112 meter 6,000 ton SSBN, or nuclear ballistic missile submarine.
Since the submarine has the capability of firing nuclear-tipped missiles from air- and sea-based platforms, India will be able to complete the nuclear triad of responding to nuclear strikes from land, air and sea.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
