Arihant Class SSBN (General)

Arihant Class SSBN (General)

Type: Submarine

Domain: sea

Country of Origin: India

Manufacturer: Ship Building Centre

Overview

India's indigenously developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine class providing sea-based nuclear deterrence — a critical component of India's nuclear triad. The Arihant class represents the culmination of India's Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme, which began in the 1970s with Russian assistance. Each boat displaces approximately 6,000 tonnes submerged with a single pressurised water reactor (PWR) derived from Russian designs but built and fuelled in India. Armed with K-15 Sagarika (750 km) and K-4 (3,500 km) submarine-launched ballistic missiles in vertical launch tubes, with future boats potentially carrying the longer-range K-5 and K-6 missiles. The class ensures India's strategic nuclear forces remain survivable against a first strike. At least 4-5 boats are planned with the first two (INS Arihant and INS Arighat) commissioned, and additional boats (S-3, S-4) under construction. Future variants may feature improved reactors, quieter propulsion, and longer-range missiles.

Technical Specifications

typeNuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN)
reactor83 MW pressurized water reactor
missilesK-15 Sagarika SLBM (750 km range) / K-4 SLBM (3,500 km, in testing)
propulsionNuclear — unlimited range
displacement~6,000 tonnes (submerged)
launch_tubes4 (K-15) or 1 (K-4)

Operators

Related sea Weapon Systems