Visakhapatnam: India has officially commissioned its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, into the Navy at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday. This submarine, an advanced version of INS Arihant, marks a significant leap in India’s naval capabilities and bolsters the country’s strategic nuclear deterrence.
INS Arighat is expected to be equipped with K-15 ballistic missiles, which have a range of 750 kilometers, significantly enhancing the Indian Navy’s strike capabilities. The submarine has undergone extensive construction and testing since its launch in 2017 at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.
The commissioning of INS Arighat further strengthens India’s nuclear triad, solidifying its ability to maintain a credible second-strike capability. As the second SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) in India’s fleet, this milestone underscores the progress of India’s nuclear submarine program. According to sources, INS Arighat will operate under the Strategic Forces Command.
India’s first SSBN, INS Arihant, was commissioned in 2016. Both vessels are part of a four-SSBN project, with two more submarines, currently known as S4 and S4*, still under construction.
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INS Arighat can achieve speeds of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) on the surface and up to 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged. It is equipped with four missile launch tubes capable of carrying 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.
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In addition to its ballistic missile capabilities, INS Arighat will also be armed with torpedoes, further enhancing its combat readiness and versatility.
