India to Boost Nuclear Deterrence with Third Nuclear-Powered Submarine, Navy Chief Confirms

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The Indian Navy is set to strengthen its strategic forces with the upcoming commissioning of its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, named Aridaman. Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi confirmed on Tuesday that the submarine is in the final stages of trials and will be commissioned soon. Aridaman will serve as an undetectable launch platform for missiles armed with nuclear warheads, marking a significant enhancement to India's nuclear triad. The submarine is expected to be commissioned early next year, followed by a fourth SSBN codenamed S-4* in 2027. India's first indigenous SSBN, the INS Arihant, was commissioned nine years ago and successfully completed its first deterrence patrol in 2018. The fully operational submarine is armed with 12 B-05 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) capable of delivering nuclear warheads up to 750 km away. The development of Aridaman comes as India continues to expand its nuclear capabilities. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India has more nuclear warheads than Pakistan but Beijing's strategic arsenal is bigger than New Delhi's. The Indian Navy has already demonstrated its capability to carry out nuclear strikes with fighter planes and land-launched missiles. The Agni series of ballistic missiles and warplanes such as Rafales, Sukhoi-30s, and French-origin Mirage-2000s can deliver nuclear warheads. In a separate development, Navy chief Tripathi announced that the ₹70,000-crore Project 75I for building next-generation conventional submarines is at an advanced contract negotiation stage. The project aims to build six advanced submarines with air independent propulsion (AIP) systems, significantly increasing the submarine's underwater endurance and reducing the risk of detection. The Navy chief also highlighted the impact of Operation Sindoor, a four-day military confrontation with Pakistan in May, which had a noticeable effect on the neighbour's economy. The Navy's aggressive posturing in the northern Arabian Sea and unmatched maritime domain awareness confined the Pakistan Navy to its own shores. Additionally, Admiral Tripathi announced that the first deliveries of the Rafale Marine fighter jets to the Navy will take place in 2029. The Navy will get the first set of four Rafale M fighters in 2029, which will operate from its two aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.