INS Aridhaman: India’s Nuclear Submarine, Features and Significance

INS Aridhaman: India’s Nuclear Submarine, Features and Strategic Significance

Explore INS Aridhaman, India’s advanced nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, its key features, capabilities, and role in strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrence.

Table of Contents

Context: India commissioned INS Aridhaman (S4), the third nuclear-powered ballistic missile.

About INS Aridhaman

Class: Arihant-class Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) (part of India’s nuclear deterrence force).
Programme: Developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Project (India’s secret submarine programme).
Builder: Constructed by Ship Building Centre (Visakhapatnam) with support from DRDO, BARC and Indian Navy.
Strategic Command: Operates under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), responsible for nuclear deterrence.
Role: Ensures credible minimum deterrence and second-strike capability through stealth underwater nuclear platforms.
Strengthening Nuclear Triad: Enhances India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence (India joined the US, Russia, China, and France with an operational triad).

Also Check: INS Arighaat

Comparison of Arihant-Class SSBNs

Submarine	Commissioned	Displacement	Missile Capacity	Missile Types	Key Capability
INS Arihant (S2)	2016	~6,000 tonnes	12 K-15 or 4 K-4	K-15 (750 km), K-4 (3,500 km)	India’s first SSBN, operationalised nuclear triad
INS Arighaat (S3)	2024	~6,000 tonnes	12 K-15 or 4 K-4	K-15, K-4	Improved stealth and endurance
INS Aridhaman (S4)	2026	~7,000 tonnes	24 K-15 or 8 K-4	K-15, K-4, future K-5(~5,000 km range)	Greater missile payload and longer deterrence range

Current Submarine Strength: Aside from the SSBNs, the Indian Navy has 16 conventional submarines in service (six Kalvari-class attack submarines built with France, four Shishumar class subs, and seven Kilo (Sindhughosh) class subs)
- In comparison, the US has 14 Ohio-class SSBNs and 53 fast-attack submarines. China has 12 nuclear submarines, of which six are nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Future Submarine Plans: India plans to develop nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) and expand its submarine fleet, including Project-75I conventional submarines.