The Indian Navy has commissioned its newest nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, into service, bolstering the country's nuclear triad.
INS Aridhaman, the third Arihant-class submarine, is an undetectable launch platform for delivering nuclear warheads thousands of kilometres away.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stressed that a powerful navy is 'an absolute necessity' and hailed India's round-the-clock naval deployments in the Indian Ocean Region amid escalating global uncertainties.
India's nuclear doctrine commits the country to a 'no first use' posture, with weapons to be used only in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or Indian forces.
The commissioning of INS Aridhaman comes as India continues to expand its deployed nuclear forces, with a fourth SSBN codenamed S-4 likely to enter service in 2027.
India already has the capability to carry out nuclear strikes with fighter planes and land-launched missiles, and the new submarine will remain on continuous deterrence patrols and be capable of launching nuclear missiles when the signal goes out from New Delhi.
