DefenceSaturday, 4 April 2026·The Hindu
INS Aridhaman commissioned as India’s 3rd indigenous SSBN; key facts on Arihant-class and nuclear triad
On 3 April 2026, INS Aridhaman was commissioned at Visakhapatnam as India’s third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In April 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Aridhaman (S4) at Visakhapatnam, making it India’s third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and the third SSBN of the Arihant-class.
Key specifics
- INS Aridhaman was commissioned on 3 April 2026 at Visakhapatnam.
- It is the third SSBN after INS Arihant (2016) and INS Arighaat (August 2024).
- The submarine was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam.
- Its displacement is about 7,000 tonnes, compared with 6,000 tonnes for INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.
- It can carry up to 24 K-15 Sagarika missiles or 8 K-4 missiles, strengthening India’s Nuclear Triad.
Exam lens
TNPSC defence question focus: match the submarine with its class and year, INS Aridhaman—Arihant-class, commissioned in April 2026, 7,000 tonnes, nuclear triad role, K-15/K-4 missile capacity.