INS ARIGHAT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: India is ready to commission its second nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arighat, which is equipped with nuclear missiles for strategic deterrence.
INS Arighat
- About: It is India’s second indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, following INS Arihant, commissioned in 2018.
- Role in Nuclear Triad: It is a critical component of India's nuclear triad, allowing nuclear missile launches from land, air, and sea.
- Project-77: Originally part of Project-77, the plan was for six 6,000-tonne hunter-killer submarines (SSNs), reduced to three, and now stands at two vessels.
- Current Fleet: India currently has one SSBN (INS Arihant) and 16 diesel-electric submarines, including six old Russian Kilo-class and four German HDW submarines, along with six new French-origin Scorpenes.
- Features of INS Arighat:
o Dimensions: The submarine measures 111.6 meters in length, with a beam of 11 meters, a draught of 9.5 meters, and a displacement of 6,000 tonnes.
o Propulsion: It will have a seven-blade propeller powered by a pressurized water reactor.
o Speed: It can achieve a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) on the surface and 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.
o Missile Capacity: It can carry up to four nuclear-capable K-4 SLBMs with a range of over 3500 kilometers or twelve K-15 SLBMs with a range of about 750 kilometers.
o Safety Measures: Includes two standby auxiliary engines and a retractable thruster for emergency power and mobility.
