India is preparing to reinforce the naval leg of its nuclear triad, with Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi announcing on Tuesday that the country’s third indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, INS Aridaman, is in its “final stages of trials” and “will be commissioned soon”. The addition marks a significant enhancement to India’s underwater deterrent, part of one of the nation’s most strategically sensitive defence programmes.

INS Aridaman follows INS Arihant and INS Arighat in India’s SSBN line-up, a fleet central to the country’s nuclear deterrence framework, which already includes established land and air components. Speaking ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Tripathi said the force is focused on strengthening “overall combat prowess” as multiple major projects near completion.

He confirmed that the long-pending acquisition of six stealth submarines under Project 75 India (P75-I) is “nearing completion”. The Navy also expects to receive the first four of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets in 2028, part of a Rs 640 billion agreement with France signed in April.

INS Arihant, India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, was launched in 2009 and quietly commissioned in 2016, placing India among a select group of nations—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China—that operate such vessels.

Admiral Tripathi also highlighted the Navy’s operational posture during recent tensions with Pakistan. Recalling Operation Sindoor, he said India’s “aggressive posturing” compelled the Pakistan Navy to remain near its ports along the Makran coast. The Indian Navy maintained high readiness across the Western Arabian Sea for seven to eight months following the escalation. The operation also increased financial strain on Pakistan, as merchant ships avoided its waters and insurance costs rose sharply.

Despite strengthening its strategic capabilities, India continues to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament. Following the 1998 Pokhran-II tests, India declared a policy of “credible minimum deterrence” and a “no first use” commitment, formalised in its 2003 nuclear doctrine.