TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: India’s naval prowess received a huge boost recently as Defence Minister commissioned the country’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat or S-3 at an event in Visakhapatnam.
EXPLANATION:
- With the commissioning of INS Arighat, India will have two operational SSBNs.
- The country already has INS Arihant in its arsenal, which was commissioned in August 2016.
INS Arighat
- The new submarine has been named after the ancient Sanskrit term “Arighat,” meaning ‘destroyer of enemies.’
- This submarine epitomises India’s commitment to safeguarding its maritime interests with unmatched deterrence.
- It is the second submarine of the Arihant-class, succeeding its predecessor INS Arihant.
- According to a report, the submarine has been under construction since its launch in 2017 at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.
- The INS Arighat is powered by 83 MW pressurised light-water reactors and can stay submerged for months on end, giving it an edge over conventional submarines.
- The submarine has a displacement of 6,000 tonnes and is 112 metres long.
- The INS Arighat can reach a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) on the surface and up to 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.
- Arighat also features a double hull, encompassing ballast tanks, two standby auxiliary engines, and a retractable thruster for emergency power and mobility.
- The INS Arighat, like the INS Arihant, will also carry up to four nuclear-capable -4 SLBMs (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles) with a range exceeding 3,500 kilometres, or 12 K-15 SLBMs with a range of around 750 kilometres.
- Notably, the K-15 missiles can be fitted with a strategic nuclear warhead.
- Additionally, INS Arighat will also be armed with torpedoes.
- While INS Arighat is of the same size, length and displacement as INS Arihant, she can carry more K-15 missiles. The new boat is much more capable, efficient and stealthy.
India’s submarine plan
- INS Arighat is part of India’s Arihant submarine plan, being developed and built at a cost of Rs 900 billion ($12 billion).
- In addition to INS Arihant and INS Arighat, India is planning on two other SSBNs, with a larger size having 7,000 tonnes displacement.
- The third, INS Aridaman or S4, is also set to be commissioned next year, followed shortly after by a fourth SSBN codenamed S-4.
- The two larger vessels will have eight missile tubes instead of four.
- Notably, with the development of the Arihant-class submarines, India is part of a small group of countries that have nuclear-powered submarines.
- As of now, only six countries — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China and India — are a part of this elite club.
- Moreover, India is also one of the few countries that has completed its nuclear triad — it has the capability to launch a nuclear weapon from land, air and underwater.
- The only other countries capable of this are the US, Russia, China and France.
Boost to India’s naval power
- With the commissioning of INS Arighat, India will have two nuclear-powered submarines in the Indo-Pacific region.
- INS Arighat will offer huge strategic leverage and act as a deterrent to any navy trying to flex its muscles in the region.
- This is crucial as China is seeking to expand its footprint in the region by setting up military bases, bullying countries to advance its unlawful maritime claims, and ensnaring vulnerable states in unsustainable debts to force strategic concessions.
- The INS Arighat also serves beyond its deterrent role.
- It possesses the capability to conduct a wide range of missions, from anti-submarine warfare to intelligence gathering and special operations.
- This operational flexibility enhances India’s maritime domain awareness and its ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats, thereby contributing to regional stability and security.