In a strategic boost to our defences and enhancing our deterrence, the Indian Navy is all set to receive its second nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arighat.
As per reports, INS Arighat is now in its final stages of sea trials and is likely to be commissioned into service in early 2021. However, the commissioning of the vessel was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Indian online newspaper The Print.
Arighat is the second of the indigenous Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile-carrying submarine (SSBN) after INS Arihant completing India’s nuclear triad which means India now has the capability to launch nuclear missiles from all three platforms, land, air and undersea.
Arighat, design is similar to the INS Arihant and can carry four nuclear-capable K-4 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missile) with a range of over 3,500 kilometers or twelve conventional warhead K-15 SLBMs with a range of about 750 kilometers and they also carry the latest torpedoes and mines.
India launched INS Arighat in November 2017 by then-Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and have plans to further construct 4 more vessels in the class, the first two being INS Arihant and INS Arighat with a total displacement of 6,000 tonnes.
However, the remaining two subs which are under construction and are yet to be named and would be bigger having a displacement of 7,000 tonnes and will be carrying 12-15 long-range ballistic missiles.
India already has lots of experience in handling of nuclear-powered submarines and for years operated the Russian Akula class submarine. Before the induction of INS Arihant, the Indian Navy operated INS Chakra which is an attack submarine, however, did not have the capability to launch ballistic missiles from underwater.
India is now part of a select group of countries that have the capability to launch a nuclear weapon from land, air and underwater. The only other countries capable of this are the US, Russia, China and France.
India further displaced its technological capabilities in 2019, when it tested an anti-satellite weapon during an operation code-named Mission Shakti again becoming part of select group nations that are capable of such feat.