NEW DELHI: India is set to further enhance its naval capabilities and nuclear deterrence with the upcoming commissioning of its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman. This development follows closely on the heels of the formal induction of the second SSBN, INS Arighat, into the Strategic Forces Command at Visakhapatnam.
INS Aridhaman, currently undergoing trials, is expected to be commissioned early next year. Slightly larger than its predecessors, INS Arihant and INS Arighat, it will be equipped to carry a greater number of long-range nuclear-tipped missiles, further solidifying India's sea-based nuclear triad.
Notably, INS Arighat, recently inducted into the Strategic Forces Command, is also capable of carrying K-4 missiles with a strike range of over 3,000 km, a significant upgrade from INS Arihant's 750-km range K-15 missiles. This enhanced capability is crucial for maintaining credible strategic deterrence amidst the ongoing military standoff with China. SSBNs, capable of remaining submerged for extended periods, are considered the most secure and survivable platforms for second-strike capabilities, thus deterring potential adversaries from launching a surprise first strike.
The commissioning of INS Arighat, with a 6,000-tonne displacement and four silos for vertical missile launch, was a significant event attended by key figures including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, and DRDO chief Samir Kamat. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the role of INS Arighat in strengthening India's nuclear triad, enhancing deterrence, and establishing strategic balance and peace in the region.
Indigenous technological improvements on INS Arighat make it notably more advanced than its predecessor, INS Arihant, which became fully operational in 2018. The two SSBNs, along with the upcoming INS Aridhaman and the fourth under-construction SSBN, will significantly enhance India's capability to deter potential adversaries and safeguard national interests.
India's ambitious plans for its naval capabilities don't stop there. It's also working on a plan to build larger 13,500-tonne SSBNs and is awaiting final approval for a project to indigenously construct two 6,000-tonne 'hunter-killer' SSNs. These advancements underscore India's commitment to strengthening its naval power and maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent in a complex geopolitical environment.
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