Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Commissioned The Country’s Second Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine

Rajnath Singh, India’s Defence Minister, will soon commission INS Arighat (S-3), the nation’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). The event will take place in Visakhapatnam and is a major step towards strengthening India’s nuclear deterrence and second-strike ability. This vessel, equipped with K-15 nuclear ballistic missiles with a 750-km range, will operate in the Indo-Pacific region under the strategic command of India.

The commissioning will be attended by top officials, including Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Vice Admiral Suraj Berry (head of Indian Strategic Command), and members of the DRDO.

The recent launch of INS Arighat adds to India’s strategic impact, as it joins existing SSBN INS Arihant (S-2) in solidifying the country’s nuclear triad. With their unique ability to remain submerged for extended periods, these SSBNs offer valuable leverage and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific area.

In the near future, India will introduce a fresh category of larger submarines capable of carrying 3,000km range nuclear ballistic missiles and featuring additional missile tubes. The Indian Navy is also preparing to strengthen its fleet by adding INS Surat (guided missile stealth destroyer), INS Taragiri (stealth guided missile frigate), and INS Vagsheer (Kalveri class attack submarine) to its ranks, while plans for procuring more submarines are in the works for this year.