India Sets Deadline for INS Arisudhan Testing Ahead of Arihant-Class Completion

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According to local media reports, India has reportedly set the deadline for completing the testing phase of the fourth of its new nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, which will be named INS Arisudhan. For the Indian Navy, this development would mark an important milestone towards completing an Arihant class intended to strengthen its deterrence capabilities. Industry is also highlighting the high proportion of domestically manufactured components that will be incorporated into the vessel.

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INS Arisudhan testing schedule and Arihant class

More specifically, the Indian Navy plans to complete trials of the new submarine before the end of the current year, clearing the way for its formal entry into service alongside INS Arihant, INS Arighaat and INS Aridhaman. At present, the vessel must still complete sea trials designed to verify the performance of its propulsion and navigation systems, as well as its communications, hull strength and other key operational elements required before it enters service.

Although it is expected to join the fleet in the near future, Indian analysts note that INS Arisudhan already stands out for incorporating the largest share of components produced by domestic industry in its design, at approximately 80%. If confirmed, this would demonstrate the growth of India’s indigenous capacity to build platforms of this type, an objective that runs alongside the modernisation and strengthening of its fleets.

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Arihant-class capabilities and armament

Based on the limited technical information available about the class, the fourth Arihant-class ballistic missile submarine is expected to be fitted with a compact nuclear reactor capable of producing around 83 megawatts, according to previous reports. This will allow it to remain deployed for longer than its diesel-electric counterparts. This is particularly significant given that these vessels are intended to serve as a permanent pillar of India’s nuclear deterrent, which also includes nuclear weapons that can be deployed from land and air.

Each of the new submarines due to enter Indian Navy service is also expected to displace roughly 7,000 tonnes and carry a broad range of weapons to fulfil its mission. In the absence of official information on this point, Indian analysts believe their dimensions would allow them to carry up to 8 K-4 missiles or 24 K-15 Sagarika missiles as their principal armament. The latter has an estimated range of between 700 and 750 kilometres and can be fitted with a warhead weighing between 500 and 800 kilograms, depending on its configuration.

India is also progressing with the development of its new K-6 ballistic missiles to equip its new submarines, driven by the need for a weapon with greater range than the two previously mentioned models. Based on reports from July 2025, their design would enable them to strike targets up to 8,000 kilometres away, while their maximum speed could reach Mach 7.5, making interception by enemy defences more difficult.

Images used for illustrative purposes