Arihant-class submarine

Profile of Arihant-class submarine
Class overview
NameArihant
BuildersNavy Shipbuilding Centre, Visakhapatnam[1]
Operators Indian Navy
Succeeded byS5 class
Cost₹40 billion (US$480 million) per submarine[3]
In commission2016–present
Planned5
Building1[2]
Completed4
Active2
General characteristics
TypeNuclear powered ballistic missile submarine
Displacement
  • Arihant & Arighaat: 6,000 t (5,900 long tons; 6,600 short tons) surfaced[4]
  • S4 & S4*: 7,000 t (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons)[5]
LengthArihant & Arighaat: 111 m (364 ft);[6] S-4: 130 m (430 ft)[6][7]
Beam11 m (36 ft)[6]
Draft15 m (49 ft)[6]
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced: 12–15 kn (22–28 km/h)
  • Submerged: 24 kn (44 km/h)
RangeUnlimited except by food supplies
Test depth450 m (1,480 ft)
Complement95
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
  • Arihant & Arighaat: 12 × K15 SLBM (1,500 km or 930 mi range) or 4 × K-4 SLBM (3,500 km or 2,200 mi range)[5]
  • Aridhaman & S4*: 24 × K15 SLBM (750 km or 470 mi range) or 8 × K-4 SLBM (3,500 km or 2,200 mi range)[5] or 8 × K-5 SLBM (5,000–6,000 km or 3,100–3,700 mi range)[11]
  • 6 × 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes – est 30 charges (torpedoes, cruise missiles or mines)[11]

The Arihant-class (transl. 'Slayer of Enemies' in Sanskrit) is a class of Indian nuclear ballistic missile submarines under construction for the Indian Navy. They were developed under the ₹900 billion (US$11 billion) Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to design and build nuclear-powered submarines.[3] These vessels are classified as 'strategic strike nuclear submarines' by India.[12][13]

The lead vessel of the class, INS Arihant was laid down in 2004, launched in 2009 and after extensive sea trials was confirmed to be commissioned in August 2016.[14][15][16] Arihant holds the distinction of being the first ballistic missile submarine to have been built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.[17] As of 25 October 2024, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat are already on deep sea patrols.[18]

  1. ^ "Contract worker killed in accident at navy ship building centre". The Hindu. 8 March 2014. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Why India needs submarines". The Diplomat. May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b "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.
  4. ^ "India reaches milestone with launch of n-powered submarine". DNA. 26 July 2007. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference India Today3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference NuclearArm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "H I Sutton - Covert Shores".
  8. ^ "Founder's Day Speech, Director, BARC" (PDF). Bhabha Atmoic Research Centre. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "India to achieve N-arm triad in February". The Times of India. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  11. ^ a b Pike, John (27 July 2009). "Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Prime Minister felicitates crew of INS Arihant on completion of Nuclear Triad". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  13. ^ "INS Arihant completes India's nuclear triad, PM Modi felicitates crew". The Economic Times. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  14. ^ "India set to complete N-triad with Arihant commissioning". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  15. ^ Ashish Singh (17 October 2016). "What is INS Arihant?". NewsX. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  16. ^ "India's first nuclear submarine INS Arihant ready or operations, passes deep sea tests". The Economic Times. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  17. ^ Marcus, Jonathan (10 August 2013). "Indian-built Arihant nuclear submarine activated". BBC. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  18. ^ "India launches its latest nuclear submarine with 75% indigenous tech: Here's what the new S4 means for regional security". The Economic Times. 24 October 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 26 October 2024.