India Strengthens Nuclear Triad with INS Arighaat’s Commissioning
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India’s Strategic Depth Enhanced with the Commissioning of INS Arighaat
In a significant move to bolster its maritime defense capabilities, India has commissioned its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arighaat, into the Indian Navy. This monumental event marks a critical advancement in India’s strategic military capabilities, enhancing the nation’s nuclear deterrence and solidifying its position within the elite group of countries possessing a nuclear triad.
A Milestone in India’s Defense History
The journey of India’s nuclear submarine program began with the commissioning of INS Arihant in 2016. The INS Arihant, India’s first ballistic missile submarine, was a pioneering achievement that laid the foundation for India’s nuclear deterrence strategy. The INS Arihant conducted its first deterrence patrol in 2018, completing India’s nuclear triad and establishing the nation’s ability to launch nuclear missiles from air, land, and sea.
The addition of INS Arighaat is a strategic leap forward. As Union Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted, the INS Arighaat will not only fortify India’s nuclear triad but also play a pivotal role in maintaining regional strategic balance and peace. This latest addition underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities and ensuring national security.
Technical Advancements and Strategic Capabilities
The INS Arighaat is a state-of-the-art nuclear submarine, weighing 6,000 tonnes and measuring 112 meters in length. It represents a significant technological upgrade over its predecessor, INS Arihant, featuring advanced sensors, periscopes, and a more sophisticated nuclear propulsion system. These enhancements enable the submarine to operate more stealthily, ensuring its undetected presence in strategic waters.
Powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water nuclear reactor, INS Arighaat can remain submerged for extended periods, making it a formidable component of India’s naval fleet. The submarine is equipped with indigenously developed K-15 missiles, which have a range of over 700 km. It also has the capability to carry K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) with a range exceeding 3,500 km, providing India with a robust second-strike capability.
Strategic Impact on Regional Security
The deployment of INS Arighaat significantly enhances India’s strategic deterrence. The submarine’s missiles can reach critical targets in both China and Pakistan, providing India with a credible deterrent against potential adversaries. From its safe waters, INS Arighaat can strike key cities and strategic locations, reinforcing India’s defense posture and contributing to regional stability.
The submarine’s capabilities extend beyond mere deterrence. With its advanced stealth and endurance, INS Arighaat can play a decisive role in ensuring the security of India’s maritime boundaries, safeguarding the nation’s interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
A Testament to India’s Aatmanirbharta in Defense
INS Arighaat is a shining example of India’s progress toward self-reliance in defense, a cornerstone of the nation’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Visakhapatnam, Union Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that this achievement is a testament to India’s unwavering resolve to achieve self-reliance in defense.
The indigenous construction and operationalization of SSBNs like INS Arighaat reflect India’s growing capabilities in the defense sector. As Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd) noted, the expertise gained in building these submarines can be leveraged for future conventional submarine programs, further strengthening India’s defense industrial base.
India Joins an Elite Club
With the commissioning of INS Arighaat, India joins a select group of nations— the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom—that possess a nuclear triad. While India still lags behind these countries in terms of missile range and submarine fleet size, the commissioning of INS Arighaat marks a crucial step toward closing that gap.
India’s future plans include the development of more advanced SSBNs with greater range and capabilities, ensuring that the nation’s defense remains robust and ready to meet emerging threats.
Conclusion
The commissioning of INS Arighaat is not just a military milestone; it is a strategic victory that enhances India’s security and strengthens its position on the global stage. As India continues to modernize its defense capabilities, the INS Arighaat stands as a symbol of the nation’s resolve to protect its sovereignty and contribute to regional peace and stability.
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