ARIDHAMAN COMMISSIONED, BOLSTERING SEA-BASED ARSENAL
Visakhapatnam – India formally added its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, to its naval fleet Friday. This induction signifies a marked increase in the nation's capacity for sea-based nuclear deterrence. The INS Aridhaman is engineered to carry a greater number of long-range, nuclear-tipped missiles than its predecessors, the INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. Alongside this, the advanced stealth frigate INS Taragiri was also commissioned.
The submarine, a product of India's indigenous Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) initiative, is larger than previous models. This expanded size accommodates more vertical launch system (VLS) tubes – eight compared to the four on the INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. This allows the Aridhaman to deploy either up to 24 K-15 Sagarika missiles, with a range of approximately 750 kilometers, or eight longer-range K-4 missiles, capable of traveling over 3,500 kilometers.
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Strategic Footprint Enlarged
The commissioning of INS Aridhaman moves India closer to maintaining a "credible and continuous sea-based nuclear deterrent," a key component of its nuclear triad which also includes land-based and air-based delivery systems. This platform is intended to ensure India retains a "second-strike capability," meaning the ability to retaliate even after absorbing a nuclear attack. The submarine will operate under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), the tri-services entity responsible for managing India’s nuclear weapons.
Comparative Scale
While India's SSBN fleet expands, it remains smaller in comparison to those operated by other major nuclear-armed nations. For instance, China operates six Jin-class SSBNs with missiles boasting a 10,000-km range, alongside six nuclear attack submarines. The United States fields 14 Ohio-class SSBNs and 53 nuclear attack submarines. The development of the Arihant-class submarines, including the Aridhaman, is part of a substantial indigenous nuclear submarine program valued at approximately ₹900 billion.
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Future Naval Ambitions
India's underwater capabilities are slated for further expansion. A fourth SSBN is reportedly already under construction, mirroring the enhanced capacity of the Aridhaman. Beyond nuclear submarines, future naval plans include additional conventional submarines and designs incorporating Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology for extended submerged endurance.
Broader Context
The development and commissioning of the INS Aridhaman is rooted in India's nuclear doctrine, which emphasizes "credible minimum deterrence" and a "no-first-use" policy. The ATV project, under which these submarines are built, has seen significant investment, with earlier estimates placing the cost per submarine at around ₹40 billion ($470 million). The Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam is the hub for India's nuclear submarine construction efforts.
