Arihant-class

The development of the Arihant class originated from the geopolitical tensions of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, specifically the deployment of a United States carrier battle group into the Bay of Bengal. This event, countered by Soviet submarine support, highlighted the strategic necessity of nuclear-powered ballistic missile vessels. Following the 1974 "Smiling Buddha" nuclear test, a feasibility study for indigenous nuclear propulsion was initiated. The project, formally organized in the 1990s as the Advanced Technology Vessel program, was initially intended to produce fast attack submarines. However, following the 1998 nuclear tests and the adoption of a "no first use" policy, the objective shifted toward constructing ballistic missile submarines to establish a functional nuclear triad.

Classified as strategic strike nuclear submarines, these vessels feature a double-hull construction utilizing high-grade steel. The internal configuration includes dedicated compartments for propulsion, combat management, and torpedo systems. Power is generated by a pressurized light-water reactor fueled by highly enriched uranium, driving a single seven-blade propeller. For emergency mobility, the boats are equipped with auxiliary engines and a retractable thruster. The primary armament is housed in vertical launch tubes located within a distinct hull hump, capable of deploying various types of submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Later iterations of the class utilize an extended hull design to increase the capacity of the vertical launch system. Secondary armament consists of 533mm torpedo tubes for the deployment of torpedoes, mines, or cruise missiles.

The Arihant class serves as the sea-based leg of a strategic nuclear deterrent. The lead vessel achieved operational status with its first 20-day deterrence patrol in 2018, following extensive sea and weapons trials. Currently, active units are engaged in deep-sea patrols. These submarines are designed to hold regional targets at risk, with missile systems capable of reaching various strategic locations depending on the launch position. While primarily intended for regional operations, noise characteristics currently limit the likelihood of deployment into the Pacific Ocean. Personnel training for these operations was facilitated through the lease of a foreign nuclear-powered vessel. The class remains a classified project under the direct supervision of the highest levels of national security leadership.