In a landmark moment for India’s maritime security and strategic deterrence, the Indian Navy has officially commissioned its third indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, today. The commissioning ceremony, held at the strategic naval base in Visakhapatnam, was marked by the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and top naval commanders. Earlier in the day, the Defence Minister took to social media to signal the significance of the event, describing “Aridhaman” not just as a name but as a symbol of “power.” This induction follows the successful deployment of its predecessors, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, and represents a massive leap in India’s “Make in India” initiative within the highly classified Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project.
INS Aridhaman is a more advanced and capable version of the Arihant-class submarines, featuring a significantly larger hull and enhanced stealth capabilities. Displacing approximately 7,000 tonnes, the submarine is powered by an upgraded 83 MW pressurized water reactor, providing it with virtually unlimited endurance under the sea. Most notably, Aridhaman features double the strike capacity of the first-in-class Arihant; it is equipped with eight vertical launch tubes capable of carrying eight K-4 long-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,500 km, or up to 24 K-15 missiles. This increased firepower ensures that India can maintain a credible and assured second-strike capability, a cornerstone of its “No First Use” nuclear doctrine.
The commissioning of this third SSBN is a game-changer for regional security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. With three nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines now in the fleet, the Indian Navy has achieved the ability to maintain “continuous at-sea deterrence,” meaning at least one nuclear-armed platform can remain on patrol at all times while others are in transit or maintenance. Today’s ceremony also coincided with the induction of the advanced stealth frigate INS Taragiri, further underscoring the Navy’s rapid modernization. As INS Aridhaman joins the Strategic Forces Command, it stands as a testament to India’s growing status as a formidable blue-water navy and a self-reliant global military power.
