‘Not Just Word, Aridhaman Is Power’: Rajnath Singh Drops Hint, India To Induct 3rd Nuclear Submarine

Last Updated:April 03, 2026, 13:26 IST

INS Aridhaman is an advanced version of the Arihant-class submarines, following earlier inductions such as INS Arighaat in August 2024 and INS Arihant in 2016.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the commissioning of India’s indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, into the Navy on Friday, ANI reported on Friday.

Singh hinted at the development in a post on X, describing the submarine as more than a name and calling it a symbol of strength. “Not just a word, ‘Aridhaman’ is power!" he wrote.

Singh, who landed in Visakhapatnam on Friday to attend the commissioning ceremony of INS Taragiri and Aridhaman, was welcomed by Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi.

INS Aridhaman is an advanced version of the Arihant-class submarines, following earlier inductions such as INS Arighaat in August 2024 and INS Arihant in 2016. Its commissioning marks another step forward in strengthening India’s nuclear triad and maritime deterrence.

Defence sources told The Print that the submarine is India’s third SSBN—a nuclear-powered vessel capable of launching ballistic missiles.

Earlier in December, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi had indicated that INS Aridhaman was in the final stages of trials and would be commissioned soon. India’s SSBN programme remains one of the country’s most closely guarded defence initiatives.

With the induction of these platforms, India has achieved a full nuclear triad, capable of launching nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea. This places India among a select group of nations—including the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China—that operate nuclear-powered submarines.

Looking ahead, the Indian Navy plans to commission its first fully indigenously designed nuclear attack submarine (SSN) by 2036-2037, followed by a second within two years. The Cabinet Committee on Security has already approved construction of these first two SSNs.

Under India’s long-term submarine development plan, formulated in 1999, the Navy had targeted the induction of 24 conventional submarines by 2030. To date, however, only six have been commissioned.

News india ‘Not Just Word, Aridhaman Is Power’: Rajnath Singh Drops Hint, India To Induct 3rd Nuclear Submarine

Read More