Rajnath Singh commissions indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridaman into Navy
What's the story
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday commissioned the indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridaman into the Indian Navy. It is India's third SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear), a class of nuclear-powered submarines equipped with ballistic missiles. The Aridaman joins its sister vessels INS Arihant and INS Arighat. Built under the ₹90,000 crore Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) program, INS Aridhaman is a major step in indigenous defense technology with around 70% local content.
Submarine specifications
Features of INS Aridhaman
The three subs can stay submerged for weeks, with the Aridaman featuring advanced sonar suites and indigenous communication systems. It also has improved hydrodynamics to reduce its noise level, making it harder to detect during deep-sea patrols. The hull was fabricated by L&T in Visakhapatnam and powered by an indigenous 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
Strategic significance
Future of India's nuclear submarine fleet
INS Aridhaman is the most advanced of the Arihant-class submarines. It has a larger hull and a much higher missile capacity than its predecessors. Its eight vertical launch tubes can carry up to 24 K-15 Sagarika short-range missiles or eight K-4 intermediate-range missiles, all nuclear-capable. The submarine also boasts advanced stealth technology, including anechoic tiles and indigenous sonar systems like USHUS and Panchendriya to avoid acoustic detection.
Subs
Future of India's nuclear submarine fleet
The three operational SSBNs allow India to maintain a rotation considered the gold standard for credible nuclear deterrence: one submarine on patrol, one preparing for deployment, and one undergoing maintenance. Work is already underway on the fourth and fifth SSBNs, which are expected to be larger and more advanced than their predecessors. Looking ahead, India plans to commission its first fully indigenously designed nuclear attack submarine by 2036-2037.