Indian Navy is poised to commission its second nuclear-powered submarine armed with ballistic missiles (SSBN).
According to Report, which cites The Times of India, the submarine named Arighat has completed extensive trials and is fully prepared to join the naval fleet within the next one to two months.
Arighat will be the second indigenous SSBN to enter service, following its predecessor, INS Arihant, which has been operational since 2018.
Both Arihant and Arighat are equipped with the K-15 Sagarika ballistic missiles, which have a range of 750 kilometers. India's nuclear deterrence is set to receive a further boost in 2025 with the planned completion of a third SSBN, capable of carrying missiles with an extended range of 3,500 kilometers.
In a separate development, India is also set to lease an advanced Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia in 2026, as part of a $3 billion deal signed in March 2019.