Why in news?
On 3 April 2026 the Indian Navy commissioned INS Aridhaman, its second nuclear‑powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), at Visakhapatnam. The induction marks a major milestone in India’s quest for a credible sea‑based nuclear deterrent.
Background
India’s nuclear strategy emphasises credible minimum deterrence and a no‑first‑use policy. A sea‑based deterrent ensures a survivable second‑strike capability, closing the nuclear triad of land‑, air‑ and sea‑launched weapons. The first SSBN, INS Arihant, was launched in 2009 and commissioned in 2016. INS Aridhaman (also known as S4) is the second of at least four planned boats under the Advanced Technology Vessel project.
Features and capabilities
- Displacement of about 7,000 tonnes, making it slightly larger than Arihant.
- Powered by an 83 MW pressurised water reactor that allows it to remain submerged for months.
- Equipped with eight vertical launch tubes capable of carrying up to 24 K‑15 (short‑range) or eight K‑4 (intermediate‑range) submarine‑launched ballistic missiles.
- Enhanced sonar, communication systems and sound‑damping tiles improve stealth and survivability.
- Indigenously designed and built, showcasing India’s growing competence in nuclear submarine construction.
Significance
- Having two operational SSBNs ensures at least one submarine can always be on deterrent patrol, strengthening the nuclear triad.
- The programme builds technological expertise for forthcoming S4* and S5 class submarines, moving India towards self‑sufficiency in strategic platforms.
Source: Economic Times · India Today