INS Arihant (SSBN)
Type: submarine
Domain: sea
Country of Origin: India
Manufacturer: Ship Building Centre
Overview
India's first indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and the cornerstone of India's sea-based nuclear deterrent — making India only the sixth nation (after the US, Russia, UK, France, China) to design, build, and operate SSBNs. The Arihant class displaces approximately 6,000 tonnes submerged with a length of 111 metres. Powered by an 83 MW pressurised water reactor (PWR) developed with Russian assistance but manufactured in India, driving a single shaft for submerged speed exceeding 24 knots and effectively unlimited endurance. Armed with 4 vertical launch tubes for 12x K-15 Sagarika submarine-launched ballistic missiles (750 km range) or 4x K-4 missiles (3,500 km range). Also equipped with 533mm torpedo tubes. The submarine ensures that India maintains a secure second-strike nuclear capability even if land-based forces are neutralised in a first strike. INS Arihant was commissioned in 2016 and reportedly completed its first deterrent patrol in 2018, establishing India's nuclear triad.
Technical Specifications
| type | Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) |
|---|---|
| length | ~111 m |
| reactor | 83 MW PWR |
| missiles | K-15 Sagarika (750 km) in 4 tubes; K-4 (3,500 km) integration in progress |
| commissioned | 2016 (Arihant) |
| displacement | ~6,000 tonnes (submerged) |
Operators
- India
Related sea Weapon Systems
- JL-3 SLBM - Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (China)
- IAI Gabriel V - missile (Israel)
- Type 071 Yuzhao - amphibious (China)
- Akya - Heavy Torpedo (Turkey)
- Type 075 LHD - amphibious (China)
- Type 076 LHA - amphibious (China)
- Orka Class Submarine - submarine (Netherlands)
- Type 054A - frigate (China)
- Type 056A Jiangdao - corvette (China)
- AN/SPY-1 - Naval Multi-Function Radar (United States)