In a massive leap for India’s maritime nuclear deterrence, the Indian Navy is set to commission its third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, today. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dropped a massive hint on Friday morning via an X (formerly Twitter) post, stating: “It’s not just a word, it’s a symbol of power. ‘Aridhaman’!”

INS Aridhaman: The Silent Guardian Developed under the highly classified Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, Aridhaman is a formidable upgrade over its predecessors, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.

• Double Firepower: Unlike Arihant, it features 8 vertical launch tubes, doubling its missile capacity. It can carry 8 long-range K-4 missiles (3,500 km range) or 24 K-15 missiles (750 km range).
• Enhanced Stealth: Weighing 7,000 tonnes, this “Arihant-stretch” submarine is longer (130m) and features a more streamlined hull to evade enemy sonars.
• Nuclear Heart: It is powered by an upgraded 83 MW Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) developed by BARC.

Commissioning of INS Taragiri: The ceremony at Visakhapatnam will also witness the commissioning of the advanced stealth frigate INS Taragiri. As the fourth ship of Project 17A, this 6,670-tonne vessel boasts over 75% indigenous content and is equipped with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles and state-of-the-art anti-submarine suites.

With Aridhaman’s induction, India solidifies its ‘Second Strike Capability’, ensuring that even in the event of a nuclear attack, the nation retains the power to deliver a devastating counter-strike from the depths of the ocean.