‘INS Arighat’ a new name has been added to the weapons that increase India’s nuclear capability. The second submarine of the Arihant class equipped with a ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons has been included in the Indian Navy. The name of this new nuclear submarine is ‘INS Arighat’. ‘INS Arighat’ was inducted into the Navy on 29 August 2024 in Visakhapatnam.
The word ‘Arighat’ is derived from the Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit it means the destroyer of enemies. ‘INS Arighat’ has strengthened India’s naval power and the ability to launch a nuclear attack from the nuclear triad i.e. water, land and sea. This nuclear submarine will enhance India’s strategic capabilities and will increase India’s influence in the Indian Ocean, Asia-Pacific region.
‘INS Arighat’ is an SSBN submarine, SSBN means Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear. India now has two SSBN submarines, the first nuclear submarine ‘INS Arihant’ was inducted into the Navy in August 2016. SSBNs play an important role in deterrence due to their ability to avoid surprise attacks and launch counter attacks. It is also difficult for the enemy to locate them. Countries like the US, Russia and China have large SSBNs with long-range missiles. The US has 14 Ohio-class SSBNs while China has 6 Jin-class SSBNs.
Specialty of ‘INS Arighat’:-
INS Arighat is about 112-metre long and weighs around 6,000 tonnes.The 83 megawatt nuclear reactor which is embedded in its hull can power the submarine to about 28 km/h on surface and up to 44 km/h when submerged. It can go up to a depth of 980 to 1,400 feet underwater. Nuclear-powered submarines are more stealthier and run more deep and silent. They need not surface or snorkel for oxygen to recharge its batteries. ‘INS Arighat’ is equipped with indigenous systems and equipment and is much more advanced than ‘Arihant’ due to indigenous technology.
Weapons in ‘INS Arighat’:-
INS Arighat has deployed 12 K-15 Sagarika Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs). The submarine-launched K-15 ballistic missile has a range of 750 km. It also has four K4 missiles with a range of 3500 km. The submarine is also equipped with six 21-inch torpedoes. Apart from this, there are several torpedo tubes which can be used to deploy torpedoes, missiles or sea mines.
According to reports, India is also building the third nuclear powered submarine INS Aridhaman. This submarine will have more vertical tubes and can carry ballistic missiles with a range of over 3,000 km. In the conventional sector, the Indian Navy has already received six new Kalvari class submarines. The Navy will get 15 more new submarines under Project 75 India, Project-76 and Project-75 AS.
(Disclaimer: All the information taken from public domain and internet, only for knowledge and editorial use.)
