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INS Arighaat and India’s Nuclear Triad

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Inspiration Study Circle Explained: INS Arighaat and India’s Nuclear Triad

INS Arighaat is India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), belonging to the Arihant class. It was launched in November 2017 and commissioned into service on 29 August 2024.

INS Arighaat is an upgraded variant of the Arihant-class submarine. It has an increased indigenous content of around 70% compared to its predecessor, INS Arihant. It is the second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine made by India under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to build nuclear submarines at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. 

Etymology: The submarine was originally known as INS Aridhaman but was renamed INS Arighaat upon its launch. “Arighaat” translates to “destroyer of the enemy” in Sanskrit. It has the code name S3.

The submarine was quietly launched in 2017 and little has been publicly announced about its capabilities and current status. According to reports released in early 2021, she was to be commissioned in late 2021 alongside INS Vikrant.

INS Arighaat and India’s Nuclear Triad
INS Arighaat and India’s Nuclear Triad

Features of INS Arighaat

  • The submarine is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor, developed with Russian assistance. This allows it to achieve a top speed of 12-15 knots on the surface and 24 knots when submerged. 
  • INS Arighaat is equipped with four vertical launch tubes that can carry up to 12 K-15 Sagarika submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with a range of 750 km, or 4 K-4 SLBMs with a range of 3,500 km. This enhances India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. 
  • The commissioning of INS Arighaat, along with the earlier INS Arihant, completes India’s nuclear triad – the ability to launch atomic weapons from land, air, and sea. This is seen as a major boost to India’s strategic deterrence. 
  • A third and even more advanced Arihant-class submarine, INS Aridhaman, is currently under construction and expected to be commissioned. It will have a larger displacement of around 7,000 tonnes and be capable of carrying the longer-range K-4 SLBMs. 

Name

INS Arighaat

Builder

Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam, India

Laid down

2011

Launched

19 November 2017

Commissioned

29 August 2024

Status

In active service

General characteristics

Class and type

Arihant-class ballistic missile submarine

Type

Ballistic missile submarine

Displacement

6,000 tonnes

Length

111.6 m

Beam

11 m

Draft

9.5 m

Installed power

1 x CLWR-B1 Compact Light-water reactor, 83 MW

Propulsion

1 × propeller shaft, nuclear propulsion

Speed

Surfaced: 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) Submerged: 24 knots (44 km/h)

Range

Unlimited except by food supplies

Endurance

Unlimited except by food supply and maintenance

Test depth

Between 300 m (980 ft) to 400 m (1,300 ft)

Sensors and
processing systems

  • USHUS sonar
  • Panchendriya unified submarine sonar, control system, and underwater communication system [5]

Armament

  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes – estd. 30 charges (torpedoes, missiles, or mines)
  • 4 VLS cells for

Importance of INS Arighaat for India

INS Arighaat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), plays a crucial role in strengthening India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities and enhancing its nuclear triad.

  1. Strengthening Nuclear Triad: INS Arighaat, along with INS Arihant, the first SSBN, helps establish India’s nuclear triad by providing a credible sea-based deterrent. This triad, comprising land-based missiles, air-launched nuclear weapons, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, ensures a robust and survivable nuclear force. 
  2. Enhancing Nuclear Deterrence: Nuclear-powered submarines like INS Arighaat are difficult to detect and can operate at long distances, making them a highly survivable second-strike capability. This enhances India’s nuclear deterrence, as the threat of a retaliatory strike deters potential adversaries from launching a first strike. 
  3. Establishing Strategic Balance: The induction of INS Arighaat aims to help establish a strategic balance and promote peace in the region. By strengthening India’s nuclear triad, it contributes to the overall security and stability of the country. 
  4. Technological Advancements: The development and commissioning of INS Arighaat showcase India’s technological prowess in the field of nuclear-powered submarine technology. This achievement reinforces India’s status as a leading nuclear power and a key player in the global strategic landscape. 
  5. Operational Capabilities: INS Arighaat is equipped with advanced features, including the ability to carry up to 12 K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a range of 750 km. Its nuclear reactor and propulsion system allow it to operate for extended periods without the need to surface or snorkel, enhancing its stealth and operational capabilities. 

In summary, the induction of INS Arighaat significantly bolsters India’s nuclear deterrence, strengthens its nuclear triad, and contributes to the overall security and strategic balance in the region. It is a testament to India’s technological advancements and its commitment to maintaining a credible and reliable nuclear force.

India’s Nuclear Triad

India’s nuclear triad refers to the country’s ability to launch nuclear weapons from three different platforms – land, air, and sea. This capability is considered crucial for maintaining a credible nuclear deterrence. The nuclear triad in India refers to the country’s three-pronged military force structure for delivering nuclear weapons:

  1. Land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs):
    • India has developed and deployed short-range Prithvi-1 and Agni-1 missiles, as well as medium-range Agni-2 and Agni-3 missiles. 
    • India is also working on longer-range systems like the Agni-5, which has a tested range of 5,000 km. 
  2. Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs):
    • India has successfully developed its first SLBM, the K-15, which has a range of at least 290 km and can carry a 1,000 kg payload. 
    • India is developing nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to serve as the delivery platform for its sea-based deterrent. The first SSBN, INS Arihant, is expected to commence sea trials soon. 
  3. Strategic Bombers:
    • The Indian Air Force is believed to have three types of bombers capable of nuclear missions. 
    • In 2023, India announced it would be purchasing the Rafale fighter jet from France, which is also nuclear-capable. 

The development of this nuclear triad is seen as crucial for India to maintain a credible and survivable nuclear deterrent, in line with its “no-first-use” nuclear doctrine. The triad provides India with the ability to deliver nuclear warheads via land, air, and sea, enhancing the survivability of its nuclear forces against a potential first strike.

Here are the key benefits of India's nuclear triad:

  1. Survivability: The nuclear triad ensures that even if one or two legs of the triad are neutralized, India would still have the capability to retaliate with nuclear weapons from the remaining platforms. This enhances the survivability of India’s nuclear forces and strengthens its second-strike capability. 
  2. Flexibility and Versatility: The different platforms offer varying ranges, payload capacities, and deployment options, allowing India to tailor its nuclear response based on the situation. This flexibility is important for maintaining an effective deterrence. 
  3. Strengthening Regional Security: The deployment of India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, further enhances the country’s regional security and strategic influence. It contributes to the overall robustness of India’s nuclear triad. 
  4. Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD): The presence of nuclear-powered submarines like INS Arighat, which can launch nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, ensures a credible second-strike capability. This capability is crucial for the MAD scenario, which is a key aspect of nuclear deterrence. 
  5. Technological Advancement: The development and deployment of advanced nuclear-powered submarines like INS Arighat and INS Arihant showcase India’s technological prowess and its growing capabilities in the strategic domain. 

While India’s nuclear triad is still evolving and faces challenges in terms of matching the capabilities of its rivals like China, the commissioning of INS Arighat represents a significant step forward in strengthening India’s nuclear deterrence and strategic posture.

India’s Stand on Nuclear Armament

  1. India has not signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and has consistently voted against UN General Assembly resolutions that welcome the TPNW. India has stated that it did not participate in the negotiations on the TPNW and therefore will not become a party to the treaty.
  2. No-first-use policy: India has a no-first-use policy, meaning it will not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states.
  3. Commitment to disarmament: India is committed to the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world through disarmament. India participates in multilateral forums and negotiations on disarmament and non-proliferation. 
  4. India is the 6th largest nuclear-armed state in the world. India’s nuclear weapons are plutonium-based and can be launched from land-based ballistic missiles, aircraft, and potentially submarines.
  5. Strict controls on exports: India maintains strict controls on the export of nuclear and missile-related materials and technologies. 
  6. While India’s nuclear arsenal has seen a slight expansion in recent years, growing from 164 warheads in January 2023 to 172 by January 2024, it remains behind China’s rapidly growing nuclear force which increased from 410 to 500 warheads over the same period.
  7. India has not subjected its entire nuclear enterprise to safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has prevented it from joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group. However, India has ratified the Additional Protocol with the IAEA, allowing for more intrusive inspections of its civilian nuclear facilities.
  8. Overall, India maintains a nuclear deterrent that it views as crucial for its national security, despite not participating in multilateral nuclear disarmament efforts like the TPNW. India’s nuclear modernization and expansion of its delivery systems suggest it will continue to rely on nuclear weapons as a key component of its defense strategy in the coming years 

Disclaimer: The information and facts for the above article are taken from: The Indian Express, the Hindu, and Wikipedia.

 

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