INS Aridaman is expected to carry K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a strike range of about 750 km, along with a complement of K-4 missiles. Photo: @kishanreddybjp
Rajnath Singh inducts INS Aridaman, enhancing India’s maritime defence strength
India commissions INS Aridaman and frigate Taragiri, strengthening its nuclear submarine fleet and maritime defence capabilities.
The Navy’s latest nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridaman, was formally inducted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (April 3). The INS Aridaman is the third vessel of the Arihant class nuclear submarines built under the Project ATV at Vishakhapatnam.
The induction marks a significant boost in India’s strategic maritime capabilities. India is among a limited set of nations with operational SSBN programmes, alongside the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and China.
The submarine, built by Larsen & Toubro at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, has spent months in sea trials ahead of induction. On commissioning, it will be placed under the Strategic Forces Command, joining the existing fleet that forms the sea-based leg of India’s nuclear deterrent, reported NDTV.
Design and armament
Configured for low observability, the INS Aridhaman is designed to operate quietly at depth for extended periods, with performance characteristics that prioritise concealment over speed. It is expected to carry K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a strike range of about 750 km, along with a complement of K-4 missiles capable of targeting locations more than 3,000 km away.
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Ballistic missile submarines rely on remaining undetected. Powered by onboard nuclear reactors, they can stay submerged for prolonged durations, limiting the need to surface and disclose their position. Their patrol areas are deliberately obscured, with visibility emerging only at the point of launch.
Fleet expansion pipeline
INS Arihant, India’s first SSBN, entered service in 2016, followed by INS Arighaat in 2024 with incremental upgrades. A third unit of comparable configuration, identified as S4, is in the pipeline, stated the report.
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Beyond this, development is underway on the larger S5-class submarines, expected to displace close to 14,000 tonnes, marking a substantial increase over the current generation.
Induction of frigate Taragiri
The Defence Minister also commissioned the frigate Taragiri in Visakhapatnam, as the eastern seaboard gains weight amid shifting Indo-Pacific security equations. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the 6,670-tonne warship is the fourth under Project 17A and reflects ongoing fleet expansion.
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Designed with a reduced radar profile, it supports stealth operations alongside multi-role deployment. Powered by a CODOG propulsion system, Taragiri combines speed with endurance.
Its weapons suite includes surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, integrated through an advanced combat system. With over 75 per cent indigenous content, the vessel underscores India’s growing domestic defence manufacturing base.