Indian SLBM is now ready for the SSBN - INS Arihant‎

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has announced that it has successfully developed nuclear-tipped submarine-launched ballistic missile - SLBM. Long shrouded in secrecy, unlike surface-to-surface nuclear missiles like Agni, the SLBM was a closely -guarded secret while in development and was called the 'Sagarika Project'.

A file photo of a submarine-launched ballistic missile ( Image Courtesy - intellibriefs )

In all probability, the INS Arihant will take this missile on board. So far, countries like the US, Russia, France, China and the UK have the capability to launch a submarine-based ballistic missile.

News Courtesy - ndtv.com

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Indian Navy first SSBN Arihant begins sea-trials

India's first home-built nuclear submarine was set for sea trials, military officials said yesterday, on Aug 07, 2012. The indigenous 6,000 tonne INS Arihant was unveiled in 2009 as part of a project to construct five such SSBNs of Arihant Class, which would be armed with nuclear-tipped missiles and torpedoes.

As stated by a defence source, Arihant is quite on-course, steadily progressing towards operationalisation with the in-service date expected to be somewhere at the end of  year 2012.

INS Arihant in the dock ( Image Courtesy - Bharat Rakshak Defence Forum )

Arihant is powered by an 85-megawatt nuclear reactor and can reach 44 kilometres an hour, according to defence officials. It will carry a 95-member crew.

The Indian navy inducted a Russian-leased nuclear attack submarine, SSN into service in April this year, joining China, France, the United States, Britain and Russia in the club of countries with nuclear-powered vessels.

News Courtesy - Deccan Chronicle

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Indian Navy - Third SSBN of Arihant Class - Shatrughana or Arinashak ?

INS Aridaman, India's second SSBN of Arihant Class will reportedly be ready for launch by end 2012, or the the first quarter of 2013. The boat is under outfitting now and is headed for a year-end launch.

Now the even more interesting news is that hull fabrication is on for the third SSBN of Arihant Class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The second SSBN Aridaman is already in advanced stage of construction. There was a rumor doing rounds on the web that the third SSBN might be named as INS Shatrughana (meaning Killer of Enemy), based on mythological character of Prince Shatrughana from Ramayan.

However, defence sources dismissed the rumor by pointing to Indian Navy's tradition, where name of all the ships of the same class begin with the same alphabet. For ex - S for Sindhughosh Class of Submarines. V for Aircraft Carriers.

Image Courtesy - Bharat Rakshak Defence Forum.

So, it can be Arinashak but definitely not Shatrughana, guess we all would need to wait for the official confirmation on the name of the third SSBN of Arihant Class.

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Second Indian SSBN to be launched in late 2012

Construction of a second Arihant-class nuclear submarine, to be named INS Aridaman, is moving fast at the Shipbuilding Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam. It is slated for launch by 2012 year-end or in the first quarter of 2013.

The first submarine of the class, INS Arihant, launched in July 2009, has just completed its harbour acceptance trials and is set to undergo the crucial sea acceptance trials in February. This will be followed by weapon trials before the submarine is formally inducted into the Navy, hopefully in 2013, when the country will attain the much-desired nuclear triad. Displacing about 6,000 tonnes, the 112 metre-long Arihant-class of SSBNs are powered by indigenously-built 80-MW nuclear power plants. Each submarine is said to store 12 K-15 missiles besides torpedoes and torpedo-launched cruise missiles.

Image Courtesy - Bharat Rakshak Defence Forum