Indian Navy Now Operates Three Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarines
A Proud Atmanirbhar Milestone
Defence Minister’s Statement
Key Facts & References (For Readers)
What is SSBN?
S-Series Codes in the Arihant-Class Programme
India uses internal project codes starting with “S” (for Submarine) in the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme:
- S2 — INS Arihant (commissioned 2016)
- S3 — INS Arighaat (commissioned 29 August 2024)
- S4 — INS Aridhaman (commissioned 3 April 2026)
- S4* — The fourth boat (slightly improved stretched design, expected to join in the coming years)
The number simply indicates the sequential order of construction.
Missile Capabilities (K-15 and K-4)
The larger Arihant-class boats like INS Aridhaman feature a stretched hull that supports greater missile capacity:
- K-15 (Sagarika): Short-range submarine-launched ballistic missile with approximately 750 km range. Larger boats can carry up to 24 of these.
- K-4: Intermediate-range SLBM with approximately 3,500 km range. INS Aridhaman can carry up to 8 of these missiles.
This combination gives flexible options for deterrence while allowing the submarine to operate from safer distances.
SSN vs SSGN vs SSBN
- SSBN: Strategic ballistic missile submarine (like Aridhaman) — focused on nuclear deterrence.
- SSN: Nuclear-powered attack submarine (hunter-killer) used for anti-submarine warfare and protecting sea lanes.
- SSGN: Nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine focused on attacking surface targets with cruise missiles.
India is currently prioritising the SSBN fleet for credible second-strike capability while developing plans for indigenous SSNs in the future.
About the Author
Praveen Chand is an infrastructure and energy professional with over 38 years of experience across large-scale EPCC projects, including oil & gas, civil infrastructure, and emerging sectors such as renewable energy. He has held senior leadership roles such as Project Director, SBU Head, and Country Head, and has worked across West to East Asia in multiple international assignments.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from NIT Trichy and a Master’s degree in Construction Law from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (UK), bringing a practitioner’s perspective to global developments at the intersection of geopolitics, energy security, infrastructure, and economic strategy.
Having travelled to over 30 countries, his writing reflects a broad, ground-level understanding of geopolitics, international systems, policy environments, and regional dynamics, along with practical insights into international travel and on-ground logistics.
