INS Aridhaman Commissioned: India’s Third SSBN
Why in the news
The Navy inducted INS Aridhaman, adding a third home-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine to the fleet. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided at Visakhapatnam and also laid the foundation for a research facility for naval design.
Key facts
- INS Aridhaman (S4): third indigenous SSBN, after INS Arihant (2016) and INS Arighaat (2024).
- Venue: Shipbuilding Centre, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
- Class and programme: Arihant-class, built under the secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project.
- Indigenous content: roughly 70%.
- Strengthens India’s nuclear triad.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical launch tubes | 8 (twice INS Arihant’s) |
| K-4 SLBM | Up to 8 missiles; range 3,500 km (intermediate range) |
| K-15 (Sagarika) | Up to 24 missiles; range 750 km (short range) |
Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT)
- Cavitation: vapour bubbles formed by a fast-spinning propeller; their collapse makes noise and can damage the propeller.
- Noise is a submarine’s main enemy, so scale models of propellers and hulls will be tested in the LCT before construction.
Significance
- Nuclear submarines can remain submerged for months, limited by food stocks, so they are the hardest part of a deterrent to track.
Exam angle
- SSBN means nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
- Missile ranges: K-4 at 3,500 km; K-15 at 750 km.
- Relevant for UPSC security and NDA/CDS.