India on Thursday (Aug 29) formally commissioned its second Arihant-class submarine into its navy. The nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arighat, is considered an advanced version of its predecessor. Speaking during the ceremony in Visakhapatnam, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the submarine would further strengthen India’s nuclear triad and deterrence capabilities.
He added that the submarine would help New Delhi maintain peace in the region and play a decisive role.
Rajnath Singh also highlighted the “unwavering resolve” of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve ‘Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) ’ in the defence sector.
The defence minister also lauded the efforts of the Indian Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and defence industry for their dedication and hard work. He added that the boost to the defence sector would also help the country achieve economic prosperity as more jobs would be generated.
“Today, India is surging ahead to become a developed country. It is essential for us to develop rapidly in every field, including defence, especially in today’s geopolitical scenario,” Rajnath Singh said.
“Along with economic prosperity, we need a strong military. Our government is working on mission mode to ensure that our soldiers possess top-quality weapons and platforms made on Indian soil,” he added.
Notably, the nuclear-powered ballistic submarines have been named Arihant, a Sanskrit word which roughly translates to ‘Destroyer of the Enemy.’
Significance
The 112-metre-long submarine is armed with K-15 missiles, with an impressive strike range of 750 km.
India has a “no first use” nuclear policy. So, since the submarine is hard to detect, it provides New Delhi with the ability to strike back and maintain deterrence in the event of a surprise nuclear attack.
Major naval powers, like the United States and China, rely on such submarines to boost their nuclear deterrence. China has six Jin-class SSBNs with JL-3 missiles capable of 10,000 kilometres, and the US operates 14 Ohio-class SSBNs.
As per media reports, India plans to build five such Arihant class submarines as well as six nuclear attack submarines in the coming years.
(With inputs from agencies)
Vikrant Singh
Geopolitical writer at WION, follows Indian foreign policy and world politics, a truth seeker.