INS Arihant

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INS Arihant (SSBN 80)[1] (Sanskrit: Vanquisher of Enemies), designated S2 Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine,[2] is the lead ship of India's Template:Sclass of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.[3][4] The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam.[5][6]

Arihant was launched on 26 July 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After fitting out and extensive sea trials, on 23 February 2016, she was confirmed as ready for operations,[7][8] commissioned in August 2016,[9][10] and deployed operationally in 2018.

Design

INS Arihant is the first of the planned five in the class of submarines designed and constructed as a part of the Indian Navy's secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. The ATV project was set up in 1984, under Vice Admiral Mihir K. Roy as the first Director General. The Template:Sclass submarines are reported to be based on the Template:Sclass.[11] Their crew were to have the opportunity to train on INS Chakra, an Akula-class submarine, which the Indian Navy leased from Russia.[12][13] Arihant is intended to be more of "a technology demonstrator" than a fully operational SSBN according to Admiral Nirmal Verma.[14]

The vessel is powered by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor[15] with enriched uranium fuel.[16] A land-based prototype of the reactor was first built at Kalpakkam and made operational in September 2006. Successful operation for three years yielded the data that enabled the production version for Arihant.[17][18] It was reported that an 80 MW nuclear reactor was integrated into the hull of the ATV in January 2008.[19]

The hull for the vessel was built by L&T's Hazira shipbuilding facility. Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (SED) built the control systems for the submarine. The systems for the steam turbine integrated with the reactor were supplied by Walchandnagar Industries.[20] Consultancy was provided by Russia.[21] Russia was also reported to have provided assistance to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientists in miniaturising the reactor to fit into the hull of the nuclear submarine[22]

Armament

File:Arihant 1.svg
Conceptual drawing of INS Arihant

Arihant has four vertical launch tubes, which can carry 12 (three per launch tube) smaller K-15 missiles or four larger K-4 missiles. The K-4 has a longer range of Template:Convert, and had commenced trials in 2014.[23][24][25]

Development phases

A nuclear scientist familiar with the project, on the condition of anonymity, echoed this report in response to media reports that India had successfully launched a completed nuclear submarine.[26] It was also expected that building the reactor, integration of systems, and sea trials would take three to five years.[27]

Admiral Verma told reporters on 7 August 2012 that sea trials of Arihant were commencing in coming months, and she was steadily progressing towards operationalisation.[28] On 27 January 2013, Sagarika, the primary armament of Arihant, completed its final developmental test and was later integrated with the submarine.[29] On 10 August 2013, the nuclear reactor of the submarine went critical[15] this after several months of system checks using shore-based high-pressure steam.[15][30] The reactor's power was raised in increments of 5 to 10% until it reached full power.

Launch

INS Arihant was introduced to the public on 26 July 2009 at a symbolic launch ceremony by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur.[31] The launch coincided with the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the Kargil War.[32] The vessel was floated by flooding the dry dock. Gursharan Kaur cracked a coconut on the hull to mark the launch of the submarine, a naval tradition, at the secret naval base in Visakhapatnam.[33] Photography was prohibited and photos showing the complete vessel were not available.[34][35] In his address to the crowd, Prime Minister Singh billed the submarine as an outcome of a public-private partnership. He also thanked Russia in his address.[36] The launch of Arihant strengthened India's endeavour to build a credible nuclear triad – the capability to fire nuclear weapons from air, land and sea.

Trials and commissioning

File:B05 SLBM.jpg
K-15 Sagarika SLBM

On 13 December 2014, Arihant sailed north along the Bay of Bengal coast for its extensive sea trials.[37] The sea trials included the firing of the indigenous submarine-launched Sagarika ballistic missile.[38]

On 25 November 2015, an unarmed Sagarika missile was successfully test-fired from Arihant.[39] The submarine then underwent further extensive sea trials, which were completed by early February 2016. Though it had initially been expected Arihant would be commissioned in time to participate in the International Fleet Review 2016, her participation was subsequently ruled out due to security concerns. On 23 February, Arihant was officially confirmed as ready for operations.[8]

According to The Economic Times, several weapons trials of INS Arihant were undertaken secretly.[2]

In August 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Arihant into the Indian Navy.[9][40] Commissioning and arming Arihant completed India's nuclear triad.[41]

Operational history

File:Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the crew of INS Arihant.jpg
PM Modi addressing the crew of Arihant after its first patrol

2017 accident

In January 2018 it was reported that an aft hatch on the submarine was left open by mistake while the Arihant was docked in 2017, leading to saltwater flooding the propulsion area, rendering the submarine inoperative for ten months while corroding pipes were replaced.[42][43][44][45]

First deterrence patrol

It was announced on 5 November 2018 that INS Arihant had completed its first 20-day long deterrent patrol the previous day.[46][47] PM Narendra Modi congratulated the crew of Arihant after the patrol.[48]

User training launch

To prove crew competency and validate the SSBN programme, INS Arihant on 14 October 2022 successfully launched an SLBM with a predetermined range and hit the target area in the Bay of Bengal with high accuracy.[49] As per a defence source quoted by The Hindu, the missile launched was not the K-4 SLBM but the older K-15 SLBM. At present INS Arihant is armed with K-15 Sagarika SLBM, which possess a range of 750 km.[50]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 20 years after Pokhran II, India makes giant nuclear leap. Hindustan Times(2018-11-06). Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 INS Arihant completes India's nuclear triad, PM Modi felicitates crew. The Economic Times(2018-11-06). Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  3. ↑ INS Arihant: What India's new nuclear submarine could mean for the world - Times of India. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. ↑ India Nears Completion Of Nuclear Triad With Armed Submarine. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  5. ↑ From India Today magazine: A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines. India Today(December 10, 2017). Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  6. ↑ INS Arihant may be of limited utility. The Hindu(2014-12-20). Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  7. ↑ INS Arihant not to feature at International Fleet Review: Indian Navy chief - The Economic Times. The Economic Times. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 India's first nuclear submarine INS Arihant ready or operations, passes deep sea tests - The Economic Times. The Economic Times. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Now, India has a nuclear triad. The Hindu. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Vibhaas, Sane (18 October 2016). "Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant Inducted 'Quietly' In Indian Navy (Land, Air, and Water)" Template:Webarchive, Dainik Bhaskar.
  11. ↑ SSBN Arihant Class Submarine, India. naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Arihant – Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV). Global Security. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  13. ↑ Leased Russian n-submarine to set sail for India this month end. indiatoday(15 December 2011). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Home-made nuke sub INS Arihant to be inducted in 2 years. The Times of India(3 December 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Reactor of India's first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant goes 'critical'. The Times of India(10 August 2013). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  16. ↑ India set to launch nuclear-powered submarine. The Times of India(17 July 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  17. ↑ PWR building shows indigenous capability, says Kakodkar. The Hindu(2 August 2009). Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  18. ↑ Arihant propulsion reactor unveiled. Hindustan Times(2 August 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.Template:Dead link
  19. ↑ The secret undersea weapon. indiatoday(17 January 2008). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  20. ↑ Private sector played a major role in Arihant – India – DNA, Joseph, Josy(27 July 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  21. ↑ Russians helped with INS Arihant's heart: Kakodkar, Bagla, Pallava(3 August 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  22. ↑ How India's pride INS Arihant was built. Business Standard(12 August 2013). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  23. ↑ Success on debut for undersea launch of missile. The Hindu(8 May 2014). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  24. ↑ India tests new underwater nuclear missile. The Times of India(26 March 2014). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  25. ↑ India tests 3,000 km range n-missile in secret. The Sunday Guardian(10 May 2014). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  26. ↑ India's Nuclear Sub Doesn't Have Working Reactor Yet, Jayaraman, KS(13 August 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  27. ↑ India's INS Arihant Makes First Contact with Water, Von Kospoth, Nicolas(28 July 2009). Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  28. ↑ India's first home-built nuclear submarine INS Arihant set for trials(7 August 2012). Template:Dead link
  29. ↑ India successfully test-fires underwater missile. The Hindu(27 January 2013). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  30. ↑ Arihant achieves criticality when the boat was "already in the sea". Jagran Josh(11 August 2013). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  31. ↑ Wife of Indian PM launches home-made nuclear attack submarine(26 July 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  32. ↑ Exclusive: PM's wife to launch INS Arihant, India's first nuclear submarine. indiatoday(16 July 2009). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  33. ↑ India inducts nuke submarine into navy. The Hindu(26 July 2009). Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  34. ↑ PIB's Latest Photograph. Pib.nic.in. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  35. ↑ PIB's Latest Photograph. Pib.nic.in. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  36. ↑ India launches nuclear submarine. CNN(26 July 2009). Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  37. ↑ India's nuclear submarine Arihant flagged off for sea trials. Economic Times(13 December 2014). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  38. ↑ Indigenous n-sub's sea trials by year-end. Business Standard(2 November 2014). Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  39. ↑ Nuclear capable Arihant submarine successfully test-fires unarmed missile. The Economic Times(26 November 2015). Retrieved 26 November 2015.Template:Dead link
  40. ↑ NewsX Exclusive: India completes 'nuclear triad' with INS Arihant. NewsX(17 October 2016). Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  41. ↑ India's nuclear triad is complete with INS Arihant ending its first deterrence patrol. The Hindu(2018-11-05). Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  42. ↑ India Learned One Way How to Sink a $3 Billion Dollar Submarine: Leave a Hatch Open. The National Interest. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  43. ↑ INS Arihant left crippled after 'accident' 10 months ago. The Hindu(8 January 2018). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  44. ↑ India's only nuclear-armed submarine is back in the water after contamination fears. The Print(8 January 2018). Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  45. ↑ The Dumbest Way Ever to Sink a Submarine? An Open Hatch (It Nearly Happened), Suciu, Peter. 19FortyFive(2021-06-28). Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  46. ↑ INS Arihant: India's first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine completes Nuclear Triad; PM Modi hails crew; top things to know. The Financial Express(5 November 2018). Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  47. ↑ INS Arihant returned yesterday from 20-day deterrent patrol, Unnithan, Sandeep. India Today(5 November 2018). Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  48. ↑ Prime Minister felicitates crew of INS Arihant on completion of Nuclear Triad. Press Information Bureau, Government of India(5 November 2018). Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  49. ↑ INS Arihant carries out successful launch of submarine launched ballistic missile. The Indian Express(2022-10-14). Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  50. ↑ INS Arihant launches Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile. The Hindu(2022-10-14). Retrieved 2022-10-14.

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