An artist's impression of an Arihant-class submarine
History
India
NameINS Arighat
BuilderShipbuilding Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam, India[4]
Laid down2011[3]
Launched19 November 2017[1]
Commissioned2023 (Scheduled)[2]
StatusSea trials completed
General characteristics
Class and typeArihant-class ballistic missile submarine
TypeBallistic missile submarine
DisplacementSurface: classified
Length300+ ft (actual length is classified)
BeamClassified
DraftClassified
Installed power1 x CLWR-B1 Compact Light-water reactor,[10][11] 83 MW[1]
Propulsion1 × propeller shaft, nuclear propulsion
SpeedSurfaced: 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) Submerged: 24 knots (44 km/h)
RangeUnlimited except by food supplies
EnduranceUnlimited except by food supply and maintenance
Test depthBetween 300 m (980 ft) to 400 m (1,300 ft)[5]
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
  • 12 × K15 SLBM (750 km or 470 mi range) or 4 × K-4 SLBM (3,500 km or 2,200 mi range)[7][8][1]
  • Torpedoes: 6 × 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes – est 30 charges (torpedoes, missiles or mines)[9]

INS Arighat is an upgraded variant of the Arihant-class submarine.[12][13][14] It is the second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine being built by India[15] under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to build nuclear submarines at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.[4] It has the code name S3.[1][16][17]

The submarine was quietly launched in 2017 and little has been publicly announced about its capabilities and current status. The submarine was originally known as INS Aridhaman but was renamed INS Arighat upon its launch. According to reports released in early 2021, she was to be commissioned in late 2021 alongside INS Vikrant.[18]

Description

The boat will have one seven-blade propeller powered by a pressurised water reactor. It can achieve a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) when on surface and 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.[19][better source needed]

The submarine has four launch tubes in its hump, just like her predecessor. She can carry up to 12 K-15 Sagarika missiles (each with a range of 750 km or 470 mi), or four of the under-development K-4 missiles (with a range of 3,500 km or 2,200 mi).[1][20]

Status

She was outfitted in December 2010, it was announced by the navy officers that she would be launched in mid or late 2011. In the event, years of delay ensued and, in October 2017, it was reported that she would be launched in November or December and would undergo outfitting.[21] The launch took place on 18 October 2017.[citation needed] Arighat was expected to be commissioned in 2021.[1][22] As of October 2022, INS Arighat was undergoing harbour trials and was slated to be commissioned in 2022.[23][18] INS Arighat has not been commissioned as of 5 February 2023, and an official commissioning date has not been announced.[24] A report in the Hindustan Times states that INS Arighat will be commissioned in 2024.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines". India Today. 7 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Indian submarine fleet to get fresh impetus by early 2023". The Economic Times. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ^ PETR TOPYCHKANOV (15 July 2015). "Indo-Russian naval. cooperation: Sailing high seas". Russia&India Report. Retrieved 15 July 2015.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b S. Anandan (14 January 2012). "Second nuclear submarine headed for year-end launch". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Arihant-class submarines". Defence News. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Retrieved on 2016-10-21". Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  7. ^ "A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines". India Today.
  8. ^ "A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines". India Today. 7 December 2017. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  9. ^ Pike, John (27 July 2009). "Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Founder's Day Speech, Director, BARC" (PDF). Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. ^ "DAE Excellence in Science, Engineering & Technology Awards 2010" (PDF). BARC Newsletter (322): 33. September–October 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Needed, a nuclear triad". Sunday-guardian.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  13. ^ General, Lt. "Indian Navy's Capability Perspective – SP's Naval Forces". Spsnavalforces.net. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  14. ^ "India To Construct Two More Arihant Nuclear Submarines For Navy". Defence Now. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Ensuring India's Qualitative Military Edge". SHARNOFF'S GLOBAL VIEWS. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  16. ^ Anandan, S. (20 December 2014). "INS Arihant may be of limited utility". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  17. ^ "India's Nuclear Triad is now Fully Operational". Vivekananda International Foundation. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  18. ^ a b Gupta, Shishir (10 March 2021). "Eye on China, India's plan for 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines back on track". Hindustan Times. New Delhi. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  19. ^ "SSBN Arihant Class Submarine, India". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  20. ^ "INS Arihant returned yesterday from 20-day deterrent patrol". India Today. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  21. ^ "A bigger nuclear submarine is coming". The Hindu. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  22. ^ Pubby, Manu (21 February 2020). "India's Rs 1.2 lakh crore nuclear submarine project closer to realisation". The Economic Times. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  23. ^ Sandeep, Unnithan (24 August 2020). "The ATV project was Atmanirbhar since its inception: Vice Admiral PC Bhasin (retd)". India Today. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  24. ^ "Indian submarine fleet to get fresh impetus by early 2023". The Economic Times. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  25. ^ Shishir Gupta (19 February 2023). "Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is back on high seas". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

See also

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