NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday formally commissioned the indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Aridaman into the Indian Navy.The induction of INS Aridaman comes as India sharpens its focus on boosting its underwater nuclear prowess, even as it has already proven air and land-launched nuclear capabilities.
India’s 3rd nuclear submarine explained
INS Aridaman is the third vessel of the Arihant-class nuclear submarines being built for the Indian Navy under Project ATV at Vishakhapatnam. The induction of the nuclear submarine is going to further strengthen the capability of the forces.India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) programme is a closely guarded project. INS Arihant was the first boat under the SSBN project and was followed by another boat, INS Arighaat.INS Arihant is India’s first home-made nuclear submarine. It was launched in July 2009 and was quietly commissioned in 2016. The Navy commissioned its second indigenous SSBN, INS Arighaat, in August 2024.INS Aridaman features several upgrades over its predecessors, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. Built with a larger hull, the submarine is designed for greater endurance and improved stealth on extended patrols. It can also carry a higher number of long-range nuclear-capable K-4 missiles, enhancing India’s strike reach. A fourth SSBN currently under construction is expected to add further strength to India’s nuclear deterrence triad.The SSBN stands for ship submersible ballistic nuclear or nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.INS Aridaman has been commissioned after months of sea trials. It is learnt that defence minister Rajnath Singh attended the commissioning ceremony at a naval base in Kerala.“It’s not words but power, ‘Aridman’,” Singh said in a cryptic social media post in Hindi this morning.India is among a select group of countries that possess nuclear-powered submarines. The countries that have such assets are the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.The defence minister also inducted the frigate Taragiri in the city.The induction of Taragiri comes at a time when the strategic and maritime importance of India’s eastern seaboard continues to grow, driven by evolving regional security dynamics and India’s deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific.The commissioning of Taragiri highlights the Navy’s sustained focus on strengthening its combat readiness and operational might through its ambitious fleet augmentation programme.As the fourth potent platform of the Project 17A class, Taragiri is not merely a ship; it is a 6,670-tonne embodiment of the ‘Make in India’ spirit and the sophisticated engineering capabilities of India’s indigenous shipyards.Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the frigate represents a generational leap over earlier designs, offering a sleeker form and a significantly reduced Radar Cross-Section that allows it to operate with lethal stealth.With indigenous content exceeding 75 per cent, the ship highlights the maturity of a domestic industrial ecosystem that now spans over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the government’s Aatmanirbharta initiatives and supporting thousands of Indian jobs.Driven by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plant, Taragiri is designed for ‘High-Speed – High Endurance’ versatility and multi-dimensional maritime operations.The ship’s weapon suite includes supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, and a specialised Anti-Submarine Warfare suite.These systems are seamlessly integrated through a state-of-the-art Combat Management System, ensuring that the crew can respond to threats with split-second precision.Beyond its role as a premier hunter of the seas, Taragiri is built for the complexities of modern diplomacy and humanitarian crises.Its flexible mission profile makes it ideal for everything from high-intensity combat to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).The Indian Navy continues to grow as a combat-ready, cohesive, credible, Aatmanirbhar force, safeguarding the seas for a Viksit, Samriddha Bharat guarded by ships designed by Indians, built by Indians and operated by Indians.
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