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India Set to Commission INS Aridhaman, Third Arihant-Class SSBN, by April–May 2026

The new boat would give the Strategic Forces Command three operational ballistic‑missile submarines, pushing India closer to continuous at‑sea deterrence.

Overview

  • Officials and recent statements from Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi indicate the submarine is in final sea trials with commissioning targeted for this spring.
  • Built by Larsen & Toubro at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, the 7,000‑tonne vessel uses an 83 MW nuclear reactor designed for long, quiet patrols.
  • Aridhaman is expected to field K‑15 submarine‑launched ballistic missiles of about 750 km range and carry a heavier K‑4 loadout reported at more than 3,000 km.
  • The induction follows INS Arihant (2016) and INS Arighaat (2024), with a fourth Arihant‑class boat anticipated around 2027 and a larger S5 class in planning.
  • Parallel undersea programs continue, including a leased Russian Akula‑class attack submarine projected for 2027–28 delivery and IndiaGermany talks on six AIP‑equipped conventional submarines under Project‑75(I).