3rd vessel of the Arihant class, S4 SSBN to enter sea trials in 2023

Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)

S4 SSBN coming out of the dry dock in Shipbuilding Centre, Vizag (Image Credit : Janes Intel Planet)

India's 7,000 ton S4 Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile submarine (SSBN) will move out of the fitting out dock and will start sea trials from mid of 2023.

The S4-star SSBN will also move out of the dry docks by mid 2023 and go into the fitting out dock for its final integration of systems.

S4 and S4-star will be an enhanced version of earlier sister boats S2 (INS Arihant) and S3 (INS Arighat) with 1,000 ton extra displacement and an upgraded higher thrust version of 83 MegaWatt Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR).

Both the S4 and S4-star SSBNs will complete the second phase of India's Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile submarine (SSBN) after which the program will move to the third phase that will see the development of the S5 class of SSBNs that will have a displacement of 13,500 tons and will be armed with 8 MiRV capable K-5 (Range: 5,000km+) or 16 MiRV capable K-6 SLBM (Range: 6,000-10,000km).