INS Arihant successfully fires SLBM; very high accuracy: Govt

INS Arihant successfully fires SLBM; very high accuracy: Govt

Subject :Science and Technology

Context-

• STRATEGIC STRIKE Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) on 14/Oct/2022.
• The Ministry of Defence said the test is significant for the SSBN programme, a crucial element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability.
• The missile was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy.
• A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence’ that underpins its ‘No First Use’ commitment.

About Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN)-

• Commissioned in 2016, INS Arihant is India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile-capable submarine, classified under the SSBN programme.
• The SSBN is a hull classification symbol for nuclear-powered ballistic missile-carrying submarines.
• The SSBN are under the purview of India’s Strategic Forces Command.
• The family of indigenously developed Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), sometimes referred to as K family missiles are code-named after Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, a key figure in India’s missile and space programmes who also served as the 11th President of India.
• Under the SLBM family, missiles of various ranges have been developed including K-15 also called Sagarika, which has a range of at least 750km.
• India has also developed and tested the K-4 missiles from the same family which have a range of 3500 km.
• It is said that more members of the K-family with higher ranges are also on the cards. Launched in 2009, INS Arihant was commissioned in 2016.
• The next in the class, INS Arighat was said to have been launched in 2017.
• It is reportedly undergoing sea trials.

The capability of being able to launch nuclear weapons from submarines has great strategic importance in the context of achieving a nuclear triad, especially in the light of the ‘no first use’ policy of India.