NEW DELHI: In a big boost for India’s “second-strike capability”, the country’s third indigenously developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, was commissioned into the Navy on Friday, an official source confirmed to TOI.The commissioning of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), part of the classified Advanced Technology Vessel project, was not announced. However, sources confirmed that INS Aridhaman was launched at a Visakhapatnam event where defence minister Rajnath Singh and Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were present.A cryptic post on X by Rajnath on Friday morning was being seen by many as the confirmation. “Shabd nahee shakti hai, ‘Aridhaman’! (It’s not a word, it’s power, ‘Aridhaman’!),” the minister posted.INS Aridhaman has a 7,000-tonne displacement (1,000 tonnes more than its predecessors) and is powered by an 83 MW compact light water reactor. With 130-metre in length, the submarine has been designed for enhanced stealth and will boost India’s nuclear triad. Equipped with eight vertical launch system tubes (compared to 4 in earlier models), INS Aridhaman is capable of carrying 24 K-15 Sagarika missiles (750 km range) or eight K-4 missiles (3,500 km range). India’s first home-made nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, was launched in July 2009 and quietly commissioned in 2016, while SSBN INS Arighaat was commissioned in Aug 2024.At Visakhapatnam, Rajnath also commissioned the indigenously developed 6,670-tonne stealth frigate INS Taragiri, the fourth warship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A). Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, INS Taragiri represents a generational leap over earlier designs as it has a significantly reduced radar cross-section that allows it to operate with lethal stealth.Rajnath also laid the foundation stone of a large cavitation tunnel (LCT) facility at the Naval Science & Technological Lab of DRDO in Visakhapatnam. This facility will significantly enhance India’s naval research and testing capabilities. “It will serve as a foundational backbone for the design and development of submarines and ships, supporting future advancements in naval engineering and maritime defence systems,” the minister said.Rajnath said that “95% of our trade happens through the sea route, energy security also relies on this route. Therefore, a strong navy is not an option but a basic necessity. The commissioning of INS Taragiri shows India’s rising indigenous prowess and growing ‘atmanirbharta’ in the sector. He said, “Be it the Persian Gulf or Malacca Straits, the Navy remains on standby to provide all types of assistance even during a humanitarian crisis.”“The vast expanse of the ocean contains numerous sensitive points, where our Navy has consistently maintained an active presence to ensure the smooth flow of goods,” Rajnath said. “Whenever tensions flare up, the Indian Navy steps in to guarantee the security of commercial vessels and oil tankers. It is not only safeguarding India’s national interests, but it is also prepared to take every necessary measure to protect our citizens and trade routes across the globe. It is this capability that firmly establishes India as a responsible and formidable maritime power,” he said.
