New Delhi, Dec 2: India will soon induct its third indigenous nuclear-powered submarine armed with ballistic missiles, Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Tripathi announced Tuesday. Named ‘Aridaman’, the vessel joins the SSBN fleet alongside INS Arihant and INS Arighat.
“These submarines remain submerged for days and provide a secure retaliatory capability under our no-first-strike nuclear doctrine,” the Admiral said.
India is also planning to acquire a nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia by 2027. Unlike SSBNs, it will not carry nuclear missiles but will enhance India’s underwater warfare capabilities, sources said.
Speaking about Operation Sindoor, the Admiral said the four-day drill in May kept the Pakistan Navy confined to its coast. “We have maintained a relentless operational tempo across our area of interest,” he said. The exercise, he added, was closely coordinated among the three armed forces, ensuring unified action.
Admiral Tripathi said India’s surveillance ensured no movement by Pakistan’s naval assets or maritime patrol aircraft. “We did not see any chance of retaliation,” he said. He added that India continues to monitor Pakistan Navy deployments post-Operation Sindoor.
While noting Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese weaponry, the Admiral said there was no visible Chinese involvement during the exercise. On China’s research vessels in the Indian Ocean, he said, “We are fully aware of their activities and there is no need to be concerned.”
India’s naval expansion is continuing rapidly. The Admiral said 51 ships are under construction, with approval given for another 47 vessels. “The Ministry of Defence cases are under progress,” he noted, underscoring the scale of the modernization effort.
