INS Arihant

INS Arihant (Sanskrit: अरिहंत) (S-73) is the lead ship of India's Arihant classnuclear-powered submarines. The 5,000–6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. of

The symbolic launch ceremony for the Arihant was held on on July 26, 2009 marked the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day). It was reported that the nuclear reactor and other systems were not included at the time of the submarine's launch. Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said in December 2009, "Work is in progress to make INS Arihant operational for sea-trials...it should be inducted in two years or so."^[1] Full integration of key systems and Sea trials are expected to be extensive. The submarine is not expected to formally join the Indian Navy earlier than 2011.^[3]

The name of the vessel, Arihant is in Sanskrit and literally translates into destroyer of enemies. The completion of the INS Arihant will make India one of six countries in the world with the ability to design, build, and operate its own nuclear submarines (the others being the United States, the UK, Russia, France, and China).