New Delhi: To increase India’s strategic strength, work is going on at a rapid pace on the Nuclear Submarine Project. India currently has two Nuclear Submarines (SSBN). INS Arihant and INS Arighat. INS Arighat has been inducted into the Strategic Command Force only two months ago. All the nuclear weapons available come under the Strategic Forces Command. India is to get two more nuclear submarines. The third nuclear submarine SSBN Aridhaman is currently undergoing sea trials. It is expected that it will also be commissioned in the Navy next year and will become a part of the Strategic Forces Command. According to sources, the fourth SSBN was launched into the water earlier this month. It was launched into the water at the Ship Building Center in Visakhapatnam. This means that now the tests will start under its water.
Two nuclear submarines operational
India also has two operational Nuclear Submarines (SSBN). India started Advanced Technology Project (ATV) in 1980 and its first project was Arihant. Arihant was launched into the water in 2009 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After sea trials, Arihant was commissioned without any fanfare in August 2016. It is of 6000 tonnes. INS Arighat was commissioned only two months ago. This is also of 6000 tonnes. It can remain underwater for more than 50 days.
Its speed underwater is 24 nautical miles per hour. Arighat and Arihant have similar reactors but the third and fourth submarines have more advanced reactors. The fourth submarine has also increased in size and is more deadly. While the range of the ballistic missile installed in INS Arihant is about 750 kilometers, the range of the ballistic missile of the fourth nuclear submarine will be about 3500 kilometers.
How many types of nuclear submarines are there?
Earlier this month, the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs also approved the construction of two indigenous Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs). There are two types of nuclear submerins. Nuclear Attack Submarine (SSN) and Nuclear Missile Submarine (SSBN). Nuclear missile submarines carry nuclear weapons. These are for nuclear deterrence and do not have an everyday operational role.
Nuclear attack submarines do not have nuclear weapons. It is like any conventional submarine but its energy comes from nuclear fuel. Nuclear submarines contain a small nuclear reactor. In which electricity is generated using uranium as fuel. Through this, power is supplied to the entire submarine.
Which is more powerful?
Nuclear submarines are much more powerful than conventional submarines. They can remain hidden under deep water for a long time. They have so much strength that despite the pressure of water, they can reach a speed of 60 kilometers per hour inside. Currently, the Indian Navy does not have a single Nuclear Attack Submarine (SSN).