By A Correspondent
New Delhi: India will “very soon” be commissioning its nuke-armed, indigenously built submarine, Aridhaman, Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said on December 2, 2025, just two days ahead of Navy Day to be celebrated in Thiruvananthapuram on December 4.
“Indigenous nuclear ballistic submarine INS Aridhaman would be commissioned very soon,” Admiral Tripathi said during his annual media interaction here, without elaborating on the timeframe for the submarine’s commissioning.
India had commissioned INS Arighat, only the second of India’s own SSBNs, in August 2024. The first in the series of four submarines, INS Arihant, was commissioned in August 2016.
Admiral Tripathi also put the official stamp on Defence Capital’s news break on the Indian Navy targeting the six-submarine Project 75(I) contract signing by March 2026.
Here are the other key takeaways from the press conference:
- Obtained approvals for 94 capital procurement proposals worth INR 1,27,554 crore since December 2024. Of these, 47 are for warships, and others are for 120 Fast Interceptor Craft.
- At present, 51 warships are under construction at various state-run and private shipyards. All of these warships are being built within India.
- Signed 82 procurement contracts in 2025, cumulatively valued at INR 84,762 crore.
- Signed 46 Emergency Procurement contracts worth INR 7,000 crore.
- Signed contract for 26 Rafale-M carrier-based fighter jets in April 2025; first four Rafale-Ms to be delivered in 2029.
- 35% of all iDEX challenge projects for defence innovation are from the Indian Navy. That is, 198 of the 556 startups’ projects.
- The Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) project is at an advanced stage of government approval.
- After the P75(I) submarine contract signing, the repeat order for three conventional Scorpene submarines under P75 would be taken up.
- Stressed on the third indigenous aircraft carrier proposal and the need for three operational Carrier Battle Groups.
- Would operate at least two Carrier Battle Groups till the third aircraft carrier is available.
- India has achieved self-reliance in Integrated Electric Propulsion Systems for its warships.
- Gas Turbine and Diesel-Electric propulsion self-reliance to take some more time. Kalyani Group is working on Gas Turbine and Kirloskar on Diesel-Electric Propulsions.
- Second squadron of Lockheed Martin’s MH-60R anti-submarine warfare helicopters to be raised in Goa soon.
- Released the Indian Maritime Doctrine 2025 document that captures major transformations in India’s maritime environment and strategic outlook.
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