Indian Navy likely to commission third indigenous N-powered submarine by April-May
Times of India
by SURENDRA SINGHFebruary 19, 2026
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India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent is set to gain a significant boost with the imminent commissioning of its third indigenous Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman (designated S4), by April-May. The submarine, currently in the final stages of sea trials, is expected to strengthen India's strategic capabilities and bring it closer to achieving Continuous At-Sea Deterrence—a key component of its nuclear defense policy.
INS Aridhaman, built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at Visakhapatnam, is larger than its predecessors at 7,000 tonnes compared to the 6,000-tonne INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. It features enhanced capabilities, including the ability to carry 24 K-15 Sagarika SLBMs with a range of 750 km and eight K-4 SLBMs with a range of 3,500 km. These missiles can target most parts of Asia, significantly boosting India's second-strike nuclear retaliation capability.
The submarine is equipped with advanced stealth technologies, including an 83 MW pressurised water reactor, USHUS and Panchendriya sonar systems for superior target detection, and acoustic damping features like anechoic tiles to reduce noise. These advancements make INS Aridhaman a highly effective platform for strategic deterrence, capable of remaining undetected while patrolling critical waters.
India’s acquisition of INS Aridhaman comes at a crucial time as it seeks to counterbalance Pakistan's growing naval capabilities, which includes eight advanced Hangor-class submarines acquired from China. Additionally, India is negotiating a $8-10 billion deal with Germany to build six advanced conventional submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/19/2026