India to Commission Third Nuclear Ballistic Submarine INS Aridaman Very Soon, Navy Chief Announces
INS Aridaman set to bolster India’s nuclear triad and regional security.
India will soon commission its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridaman, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi confirmed on Tuesday during the annual Navy Day press briefing. The announcement signals a rapid expansion of India’s credible second-strike capability and completes a trio of operational SSBNs within a decade. INS Aridaman follows INS Arihant (2016) and the recently commissioned INS Arighaat (August 2024).
Belonging to the upgraded Arihant-class, INS Aridaman incorporates significant indigenous advancements in propulsion, weaponry, and sensor systems developed jointly by the Navy, DRDO, and Indian industry. The submarine is expected to carry K-15 (750 km) and K-4 (3,500 km) submarine-launched ballistic missiles, providing India with a robust and survivable nuclear deterrent from the sea.
Admiral Tripathi stated that the successive induction of SSBNs has considerably strengthened India’s nuclear triad and contributes to strategic stability in the region. He emphasised that the growing capability is purely defensive and aligned with India’s policy of credible minimum deterrence and no-first-use doctrine.
The Navy also highlighted intensified international maritime cooperation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mahasagar’ vision, with 21 bilateral and nine multilateral exercises conducted in the past year. A first-ever Africa-India field training exercise was held in Tanzania, while joint patrols and port calls have expanded across the Indo-Pacific.
On regional developments, Vice Admiral K Swaminathan confirmed the Navy closely monitored Pakistan’s recent P282 missile test and maintains high situational awareness. Regarding Bangladesh, he expressed satisfaction with ongoing naval cooperation and ruled out any immediate concerns of hostility, underscoring India’s focus on fostering maritime partnerships in the neighbourhood.
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