In News:

• India’s Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM).
• The missile was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy.
• This trial was significant to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear Submarine) program.
• 

What’s in Today’s Article:

• INS Arihant – About, features, significance

INS Arihant

• INS Arihant, a 6,000-tonne submarine is the lead ship of India's Arihant class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project.
  • Under the Rs 90,000 crore top secret ATV project, India is currently building three more SSBNs to follow INS Arihant.
  • The second such submarine, INS Arighat, is slated to become fully operational next year.
  • The vessel will be followed by two 7,000-tonne SSBNs under the ATV project.
  • There is also plan to build 13,500-tonne SSBNs with more powerful 190MW reactors.
• It is India's first indigenous nuclear submarine that has been inducted in the Indian Navy.
  • Launched in 2009, INS Arihant was commissioned in 2016.

Features

• Power source
  • It is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core with enriched uranium fuel.
• Builder
  • Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam.
  • Its design is based on the Russian Akula-1 class submarines and its 83MW pressurised water reactor has been built with significant Russian assistance.
• SSBN:
  • SSBN's are that class of submarines which can go deep beneath the ocean making them virtually undetectable for months, they also carry nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles.
• Armament:
  • It is capable of carrying ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.
  • It is armed with the K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 km.
  • Later, it will also be armed with K-4 missiles, being developed by the DRDO, which are capable of striking targets at a distance of up to 3,500 km.
    • These 'K' series of missiles are named after former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Significance

• Nuclear triad
  • With INS Arihant, India completed its ‘nuclear triad’.
    • i.e., India can launch nuclear missile from all three key defence bastions — land, air and sea.
    • Triad is important because in an enemy strike, even if the other wings are destroyed, the third can launch a retaliatory strike thus providing a guaranteed ‘second strike’ capability to the country.
• Stealth capability
• Due to satellites, other legs of our nuclear triad (missile sites and air-bases) remain exposed to enemy attack.
• However, being a SSBN, it can stay deep inside the ocean making them virtually undetectable for months.
• Part of Elite club
  • INS Arihant places India in the league of select group of five Countries — US, Russia, France, UK and China — which can design, construct and operate Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarines.
• Credible minimum deterrence:
  • While India remains committed to the doctrine of Credible Minimum Deterrence and No First Use,” the success of INS Arihant gives a fitting response to those who indulge in Nuclear Blackmail.
• Maritime security
  • INS Arihant will strengthen India’s position in the Indian Ocean region where it has to face challenges from Chinese submarines.
• Boost of defence manufacturing
  • The Arihant is a live manifestation of Government’s Make in India vision as it is India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine.