Our Bureau
Visakhapatnam
India’s third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, is set to enter service in April-May 2026, bolstering the country’s strategic nuclear deterrent. The advanced vessel, fabricated by private sector giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at the secretive Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, has undergone months of sea trials and will join its two sister submarines, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), India’s tri-services nuclear command.
This commissioning marks a significant milestone in India’s quest for a robust second-strike capability, operating on the principle of secrecy and surprise. Designed to be stealthier and slower-moving than conventional attack submarines, INS Aridhaman will be armed with the 750-km range K-15 missiles and an unspecified number of longer-range K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) exceeding 3,000 km. Its nuclear reactor provides near-limitless underwater endurance, allowing it to lurk undetected at depths without surfacing, ensuring its position remains unknown until a potential missile launch shifts any conflict to the nuclear domain.
INS Arihant, India’s first SSBN, was commissioned in 2016, followed by the improved INS Arighaat in 2024. A fourth submarine, designated S4 and of similar size, is slated to join soon, paving the way for the larger S5 class, displacing up to 14,000 tonnes, double that of current boats, which remains unnamed. With this fleet expansion, India joins an elite group of nations, including the US, Russia, France, the UK, and China, capable of building and operating these complex underwater nuclear platforms.
The addition of INS Aridhaman enhances India’s maritime nuclear triad, ensuring credible deterrence amid evolving regional security dynamics.
