Lagatar24 Desk
Visakhapatnam: In a significant boost to India’s naval prowess and strategic nuclear deterrence, the Indian Navy commissioned its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, on Thursday at Visakhapatnam. This advanced vessel, an upgraded version of INS Arihant, marks a crucial step forward in enhancing India’s defense capabilities.
INS Arighat is expected to be equipped with K-15 ballistic missiles, which have a range of 750 kilometers, thereby adding substantial firepower to the Indian Navy’s arsenal. The submarine, which has been under construction and rigorous testing since its launch in 2017 at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, represents a key component of India’s evolving nuclear triad.
The commissioning of INS Arighat bolsters India’s ability to maintain a credible second-strike capability, a vital aspect of its nuclear deterrence strategy. As the second Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear (SSBN) in India’s fleet, INS Arighat’s induction is a milestone in the country’s ambitious nuclear submarine program.
According to defense sources, INS Arighat will operate under the Strategic Forces Command, further reinforcing India’s strategic defense infrastructure. The first SSBN, INS Arihant, was commissioned in 2016, and together, these submarines form part of a larger project that includes two more SSBNs, currently designated as S4 and S4*, which are still under construction.
INS Arighat boasts impressive capabilities, with a surface speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) and a submerged speed of up to 24 knots (44 km/h). The submarine is outfitted with four missile launch tubes and can carry either four K-4 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) with a range exceeding 3,500 kilometers or twelve K-15 SLBMs with a range of approximately 750 kilometers. The K-15 missiles can be armed with strategic nuclear warheads, further enhancing the submarine’s deterrence potential. In addition to its missile systems, INS Arighat will also be equipped with torpedoes, making it a formidable asset in India’s defense arsenal.
