India’s nuclear submarine trio is what China and Pakistan should pay attention to

A nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine prowling the depths of the Indian Ocean, running silent and deep, can survive any first strike and deliver a guaranteed retaliatory response. That guarantee is the foundation of credible deterrence, and it is what India has spent 5 decades and hundreds of billions of rupees building. Developed under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Project, one of India's most secretive defense programs, the Arihant class holds a distinction that belongs to very few nations. It is the first ballistic missile submarine ever built by a country outside the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council. INS Arihant, whose name translates as Conqueror, is the lead ship of the class. Commissioned in August 2016, it became operationally deployed in 2018 after completing India's first ever nuclear submarine deterrence patrol. Arihant is the smallest unit of the class with a surface displacement of roughly 6000 tons and a hull length of just over 110 metres. It is fitted with 4 vertical launch system cells capable of carrying either up to 12 K 15 Sagarika missiles with a range of approximately 750 kilometres or up to 4 K4 intermediate range ballistic missiles with a range of 3500 kilometres, depending on the chosen load out. INS Areghat, the second submarine of this class, was commissioned on August 29, 2024 with a significantly increased indigenous content of 70% compared to its predecessor. In contrast to Arihant which was initially equipped only with 750 kilometre range K 15 missiles, Arigat is equipped with both K 15 Sagarika and K4 missiles From the outset. On November 27, 2024, a nuclear capable K4 SLBM with a range of 3500 kilometres was successfully test fired from INS Araghat. It confirmed that India's sea based deterrent could now hold targets at genuinely strategic depth, not just Pakistan cities but China's eastern seaboard from submerged positions in the Indian Ocean. And if Arihant was the proof and Araghat was the operational validation, Aridhaman is the submarine the program was always building toward. INS Aridhaman has completed its final stage of deep sea trials and is set to induction in 2026. Featuring nearly 75% indigenous content, the jump in capability over its predecessors is fundamental rather than incremental. Unlike Arihanta Nareghat, which feature 4 missile tubes, Aridhaman is equipped with 8 vertical launch tubes, doubling the firepower of earlier models. The submarine can carry up to 24 K, 15, 8 K4 or a combination of both and is designed to be compatible with the future K5 missile. Aridhaman offers unmatched stealth and survivability with enhanced acoustic silencing and advanced indigenous sonar systems making it the most resilient opponent of Indias nuclear triad and its ability to navigate deep waters undetected makes it a premier asset for second strike operations. A 4th submarine proposed to be named INS Arisudan departed for sea trials in late 2025 and is expected to be commissioned by 2027. This makes India one of the very few nations with 4 SSB N's at sea in different phases simultaneously. Beyond the Arihant class, Cochin Shipyard has constructed 3 production lines for the next generation S5 class submarines and 2 nuclear power attack submarines. SSN approved in recent months. The commissioning of Aridhaman comes as Chinas submarine fleet is projected to reach 80 vessels by 2035 and Pakistan completes the acquisition of 8 Yuan class submarines from China. India Sea based deterrent is not being built in a vacuum, it is being built in direct response to a 2 front submarine threat that is growing faster than at any point since the Cold War. The submarines beneath the Indian Ocean are not named for modesty. They are named for what India intends its nuclear deterrent to be invisible, survivable and certain in its response.