India’s Indigenous Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant has not sailed for months due to a possible human error. INS Arihant is said to be the most important platform within India’s nuclear triad covering land, air and sea. Around 10 months ago INS Arihant’s propulsion compartment suffered damage as water entered this compartment. A Naval source stated water rushed in because a hatch on the rear side was left open by mistake.
The INS Arihant was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. The submarine suffered damage while it was at the harbor. The submarine has been undergoing repairs and clean up ever since the incident occurred. Along with the repairs, many pipes have been cut open and replaced. A Naval Official said cleaning up is a laborious task in a nuclear submarine which is why there has been a delay in getting it back to sea.
Gursharan Kaur, wife of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the launch of India’s first Nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant in Visakhapatnam on the 26th of July, 2009. After the launch, INS Arihant was towed to an enclosed pier at the Ship Building Centre. INS Arihant was undergoing extensive harbor trials. Later, in August 2016, INS Arihant was commissioned into service.
INS Arihant is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light water reactor with enriched uranium. Its surface speed is said to be 12 to 15 Knots while submerged speed is 24 Knots. Arihant can carry a total of 12 K-15 or Sagarika Submarine Launch Ballistic Missiles’ (SLBM) with a range of 750 Km with nuclear warheads. Arihant’s nuclear pressurized water reactor uses 34 to 40% enriched uranium. It has one 7 blade skewed brass propeller.
India’s ambitious plan to build a SSBN fleet comprising of five Arihant class vessels still remains a plan. A Naval Official said, “It was initially estimated to cost about Rs. 3000 crore for three boats, now the cost of Arihant itself seems to have gone over Rs. 14,000 crores.”
INS Arihant, India’s only operational Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) is said to stay deep underwater for long periods without getting detected. The submarine is manned by 100 men with extensive training from the School for Advanced Underwater Warfare in Visakhapatnam.
