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India commissions INS Aridhaman, its third indigenous nuclear ballistic submarine

Defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Aridhaman at a Kerala base, marking the induction of India’s third home built nuclear ballistic submarine as the Navy also brought the frigate Taragiri into service.

Apr 3rd 2026 · India

Insights

  • INS Aridhaman is the third Arihant-class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine built under Project ATV at Visakhapatnam.
  • Defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned Aridhaman at a naval base in Kerala after months of sea trials.
  • India now fields three indigenous SSBNs following INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, and INS Arighaat, commissioned in August 2024.
  • SSBNs provide a sea based leg of India’s nuclear deterrent and place India among SSBN operators such as the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.
  • The Navy also inducted frigate Taragiri, a 6,670 tonne Project 17A ship built by Mazagon Dock with over 75 percent indigenous content and CODOG propulsion.

Sources