INS Arihant, India’s first indigenous nuclear submarine, has completed its first deterrence patrol. Congratulating the crew and everyone else involved in achieving this feat, Prime Minister Modi said the success of INS Arihant would enhance India’s security needs.
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He added that the success of INS Arihant gives a fitting response to those who indulge in nuclear blackmail and this will give India an important pillar of global peace and stability.
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INS Arihant is the lead ship of India’s Arihant class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Built at the Ship Building Centre in Vizag, the 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV). Arihant was launched on 26th July 2009 by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and after extensive sea trials, she was confirmed ready for operations on 23rd February 2016. The launch of Arihant strengthens India’s endeavour to build a credible nuclear triad – the capability to fire nuclear weapons from air, land and sea.
It is reported that INS Arihant is capable of carrying nuclear tipped ballistic missiles, the class referred to as Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) which are designed to prowl the deep ocean waters carrying nuclear weapons and provide the country with an assured second strike capability. Second strike capability refers to the capability of striking back after being hit by nuclear weapons first. This is particularly important for India since India has a ‘No-First-Use’ policy.
INS Arihant will be armed with K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 kms following which a much longer missile of K-4 range will be developed at the DRDO. In November 2017, India tested the BrahMos missile from the Sukhoi-30 MKI platform and also possesses surface-to-surface missiles such as the Agni III and Agni IV.