By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, September 8:
In a major fillip for the Indian Navy’s capabilities and arsenal, its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine the “INS Arighat” is set to be deployed into service by the end of the current year.
Developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, “INS Arighat” has been built at the shipbuilding centre located in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam. It is set to complete three years of sea trials and will thereafter enter service with the Indian Navy.
With this India’s Rs 1.2 lakh crore nuclear submarine project is closer to realisation. The submarine is capable of carrying more missiles than previous submarine “INS Arihant”, and it comes with the ability to cruise at a maximum speed of 12-15 nautical miles on the surface of water and can achieve a speed of 24 nautical miles while submerged.
The indigenous nuclear submarine will have eight launch tubes and will be armed with 12 K-15 Sagarika missiles which have a range of 750 km. It will also be able to carry up to four K-4 missiles that have a range of 3,500 km.
The work on “INS Arighat” had began in December 2014 it was likely to be launched in 2016. In 2017, the launch took place in a closely guarded fashion when the submarine was undergoing sea trials. Originally it was named “INS Arindaman” but it was named “INS Arighat” during the launch.
The submarine is now ready to dive into the sea by the end of this year. This is the second Indian submarine of Arihant class. It has been built under the $ 2.9 billion, Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project.
India’s first ballistic missile submarine “INS Arihant” was launched in 2009. After 9 years of extensive sea trials she became ready to enter service in August 2016.
The number of missiles at “INS Arighat” will be double that of INS Arihant, giving India the ability to carry more missiles. Remaining two submarines of the class are under construction. All the four subs can be commissioned by 2023.
