Arihant completes India’s nuclear triad & serves as a credible strategic deterrence

Arihant completes India’s nuclear triad & serves as a credible strategic deterrence

Article:

1. The article discusses the significance of Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant. The submarine has recently returned from its first deterrence patrol, completing the establishment of the India’s survivable nuclear triad.

Important analysis

About INS Arihant

2. INS Arihant is India’s first nuclear ballistic missile submarine. It is India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine
3. is a 6,000 tonne submarine and has a length of 110 metres with a breadth of 11 metres. It can also dive to 300 metres.
4. INS Arihant capable of carrying 12 K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles that have a range of over 700 kilometres
5. INS Arihant’s design is based on Russia’s Akula-class Submarine and was commissioned in 2016
6. INS Arihant is a part of the navy’s Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project

About Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN)

7. SSBNs are bigger in size and differ from the conventional submarines. They are powered by a nuclear reactor and can remain submerged for months without having to return to the base.
8. SSBNs are also different from the nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) because they can carry ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads

Significance of INS Arihant

9. It gives India a second-strike capability- a capability to strike back after being hit by nuclear weapons first. Second strike capability is particularly important for India as it had committed to a ‘No-First-Use’ policy as part of its nuclear doctrine.
10. It strengthens India’s stated approach towards achieving peace and stability in the region
11. It completes India’s Nuclear triad and provides for credible strategic deterrence amidst challenging security environment

Additional Information

Nuclear Triad is a three-sided military-force structure consisting of land-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-missile-armed submarines, and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles.