INS Aridhaman, India’s third indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine, is nearing induction into active service, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi confirmed on Tuesday. Speaking at the Navy’s annual press conference, he said the submarine has entered the final phase of sea trials and will be commissioned soon, marking a significant expansion of India’s underwater nuclear strike capability just days before Navy Day celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram.
Designed to carry longer-range nuclear missiles and operate undetected for prolonged periods, INS Aridhaman will substantially reinforce India’s strategic deterrence posture under its nuclear doctrine. Once commissioned, it will join INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, creating a more robust and survivable second-strike capability against potential adversaries. INS Arighaat — the second submarine in the Arihant-class — was commissioned on August 29, 2024, after an extensive development process requiring sophisticated engineering, advanced materials and high-precision manufacturing.
Admiral Tripathi also highlighted the broader modernisation of the naval fleet. He noted that the Navy has inducted INS Vaghsheer and 12 warships since the last Navy Day. INS Udaygiri, commissioned in August in Visakhapatnam, became the 100th warship designed by the Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau — a milestone underscoring India’s growing defence self-reliance.
The Navy Chief further stated that the force is working toward inducting women submariners, signalling a future expansion of roles for women in underwater operations.
