India’s first SSBN INS Arihant seen in dry docks at Visakhapatnam; Might be undergoing scheduled Refuelling and Overhaul (ROH) of its reactor

Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)

INS Arihant (SSBN 80) at Visakhapatnam dry dock (Image Credit: Damien Symon @detresfa_ Twitter)

India’s first-generation indigenous Nuclear-powered Ballistic Missile Submarine INS Arihant SSBN was captured in satellite imagery at the maintenance dry dock in Visakhapatnam in November 2022.

INS Arihant’s 83-megawatt Pressurized Water Reactor has a refueling cycle of seven years and it is likely that our INS Arihant is undergoing its first Refueling and Overhaul (ROH) which is a process of refueling or replacing the enriched uranium fuel rods of the submarine reactor and this process can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months.

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Not everyday you get to see the Indian Arihant Class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in such detail, went into the dock in Nov 2022, appears its still there. pic.twitter.com/iPzlT3UT35

— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) January 10, 2023

India’s second-generation Pressurized Water Reactor for the upcoming S5 class SSBNs will have a longer refueling cycle of 12 years that will significantly reduce the cost of the operation.