Rajnath Singh to Commission India’s Second Nuclear Missile Submarine INS Arighat Today

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to commission India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat (S-3), at a low-key event in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, as per sources familiar with the situation. The ceremony will be attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Indian Strategic Command head Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, and senior DRDO officials. The SSBN will operate under India’s strategic command.

While the defence ministry was tight-lipped about the classified project, HT has learnt that the 6,000-tonne INS Arighat is set to embark on a long-range patrol of the Indo-Pacific armed with 750-km range nuclear ballistic missiles K-15. India’s third SSBN, INS Aridaman or S4, is also set to be commissioned next year, followed shortly after by a fourth SSBN codenamed S-4*, the people said on condition of anonymity.

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India Strengthens Nuclear Triad with Two SSBNs

India will now have two SSBNs – INS Arihant (S-2) and INS Arighat — patrolling the high seas as a crucial part of the country’s nuclear triad and second-strike capability (due to its no-first-use policy).

The Indian Navy has already approached the Narendra Modi government for the approval of two nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines (SSNs). The SSBN, like SSNs, can remain underwater for months, and their range limitation is only due to logistics, supplies, and crew changes. Diesel-electric attack submarines, or SSKs, on the other hand, need to surface almost every other day to charge their batteries.

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India’s Strategic Naval Strength Bolstered by Advanced SSBNs

India’s central position in the Indo-Pacific grants its two SSBNs significant strategic leverage, deterring potential naval threats in the region. The INS Arighat, an advanced version of INS Arihant, closes previous technological gaps with an indigenous nuclear reactor and missile system. With the upcoming commissioning of the S-4 SSBN, India plans to launch larger submarines capable of carrying 3,000km range nuclear ballistic missiles. Additionally, the Indian Navy is set to enhance its capabilities with new vessels, including the guided missile destroyer INS Surat, frigate INS Taragiri, and attack submarine INS Vagsheer.