INS Arighat to be commissioned: Know all about India's 2nd nuclear submarine and its potential

Both INS Arihant and INS Arighat are powered by 83 MW pressured water reactors

Defence minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat on Thursday.

According to Hindustan Times, the commissioning will be attended by chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, head of Indian strategic command Vice Admiral Suraj Berry and top DRDO officials. The submarine will function under India's strategic command.

What is SSBN?

INS Arighat, which is an upgraded version of INS Arihant, is the second boat of the Arihant class indigenous nuclear submarines. It will be supporting the existing INS Arihant which was inducted in 2009. The submarine has been under construction since its launch in 2017 at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.

INS Arighat reportedly can reach a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) on the surface and up to 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.

It has four launch tubes in its hump and like INS Arihant, can carry up to four nuclear-capable K-4 SLBMs (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles) with a range exceeding 3,500 kilometres, or twelve K-15 SLBMs with a range of around 750 kilometres.

The K-15 missile can also be fitted with a strategic nuclear warhead.  INS Arighat will also be armed with torpedoes. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighat are powered by 83 MW pressured water reactors. The reactors are fitted in their hull in a way that they can stay submerged for months.  The submarines have been named the Arihant class which is a Sanskrit word meaning the “Destroyer of the Enemy”.

How will SSBNs help India?

India is located at the centre of the Indo-Pacific.  The two SSBNs can now offer huge strategic leverage and act as a deterrent to any navy trying to flex its muscles in the region.

With two SSBNs – INS Arihant (S-2) and INS Arighat, Indica can now patrol the high seas much better.  It is a crucial part of the country’s nuclear triad and second-strike capability (due to its no-first-use policy).

India already has land-based nuclear missiles such as the Agni series, and air launch nuclear capability.  The SSBN is likely to become now the most potent weapon in the nuclear triad.

The Centre aims to build both nuclear and conventional boats for its long-term submarine acquisition and capability development plan. India wants to develop five Arihant class boats along with the six nuclear attack submarines to be built in three blocks.

India’s third SSBN, INS Aridaman or S4, is also set to be commissioned next year, followed shortly after by a fourth SSBN codenamed S-4*, Indian navy insiders told Hindustan Times.